Ukraine is celebrating its surprise advance into Russian territory in Moscow’s war of aggression as a historic event. But the fighting at several points along the front is becoming increasingly fierce.
Russian and Ukrainian troops are engaged in increasingly heavy fighting in the Kursk area and in the Donbass. The General Staff in Kiev reported that air and artillery strikes in the direction of Pokrovsk, Toretsk and Kurakhove in the region around Donetsk had been repelled. There was talk of numerous clashes. The Russian Defense Ministry, on the other hand, reported new territorial gains in the region. The information from both sides could not be verified. Particularly heavy fighting continued in the Russian region of Kursk, where Ukrainian troops have been occupying and fighting in towns since August 6. According to military analysts, around 10,000 Ukrainians are deployed there.
Kiev’s airborne troops released a video of the alleged first hours of the operation. August 6, the date of the start of the offensive, will go down as a historic day in the history of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the combat unit announced. The video was accompanied by text that said: demining, breaching the border, destroying the enemy’s defenses, air strikes, artillery fire and the capture of prisoners of war. Russia’s border guards and military were completely surprised by the attack.
Kyiv: Prisoner exchange in preparation
The authenticity of the recordings, which were accompanied by music like in an action film, could not initially be independently verified. They also made the rounds on numerous Ukrainian and Russian news sites.
According to information from Kiev, a new prisoner exchange is also being prepared. Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said that the Russians captured in the Kursk area are to be exchanged for Ukrainians in Russian custody, especially the sick and women. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated several times that the Kursk offensive also serves to replenish reserves for such exchanges. Kiev and Moscow have repeatedly exchanged prisoners of war.
Putin marks 25 years in power with crisis
The operation is also seen as an exposure for Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, who has been in power for 25 years. After starting his war of aggression against Ukraine almost two and a half years ago, Putin repeatedly promised security to the people of the world’s largest country by area. Putin first became head of government and then president on August 17, 1999. This Saturday he will have been in power for a quarter of a century. The anniversary is now overshadowed by the Kursk offensive.
Putin, who has repeatedly experienced critical phases during his attack on Ukraine, announced at a meeting of the Russian National Security Council that there would be new technical solutions for the war participants. He did not initially give any details. However, a retaliatory action by the Russians for the Ukrainian ground offensive is also expected.
Heavy fighting continues in the Kursk area
Meanwhile, fighting continued in the Kursk area. According to the military leadership in Kiev, Ukrainian troops are continuing to advance and have brought more than 80 towns in an area of 1,500 square kilometers under their control. Independent military observers consider the figures to be exaggerated and assume that the number is about half the number given by Kiev.
Russian military bloggers reported heavy fighting. Ukrainian troops suffered numerous losses in the Kursk area. There was no information on this from the Ukrainian side at first. The Defense Ministry in Moscow announced that the Ukrainian attacks were continuing to be repelled and that the flow of reserves from the neighboring country had been cut off. This information could not be independently verified either.
According to the British assessment, Russia was not sufficiently prepared for the Ukrainian attack. After initial confusion, armed forces are now being stationed in the region in larger numbers, the Ministry of Defense in London announced. “They have also begun building additional defensive positions to prevent Ukraine from advancing.”
Moscow reports launch of 12 ATACMS missiles at Crimean bridge
According to Russian sources, Ukraine has again attempted to destroy the bridge to the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which has been annexed by Moscow. The Russian Defense Ministry announced that Russian air defense destroyed twelve US ATACMS missiles. The ministry did not publish any evidence of this. The information cannot be independently verified. However, Ukraine has repeatedly stated that it wants to destroy the bridge as soon as it has the military means to do so, because it was built illegally.
The bridge is considered one of the best-secured Russian structures, having been the target of several attacks and damaged in the past. The Russian military has also been alarmed since German air force officers exchanged views on how many cruise missiles would be needed to destroy the viaduct in a conversation intercepted by Moscow.
Volunteer corps calls on Russian soldiers to surrender
The Ukrainian ground offensive in the Kursk region has increased the pressure on Russia’s soldiers. Putin opponents armed by Kiev are now calling for people to switch sides. “Your political instructors, who are sitting in warm back rooms, strongly recommend not to become prisoners of war, but rather to blow yourself up with your own grenade,” wrote the fighters from the Legion “Freedom of Russia” on Telegram. But it is better to live than to die for an order from your superior.
Anyone who wants to fight for a “normal future for Russia” can also switch sides and join the Legion. “We are ready to communicate with anyone who expresses a desire to take up arms against the Kremlin,” the appeal said.
Dead and injured in attack on shopping center in Donetsk
Fierce fighting continues in the Donbass. According to the Russian occupation authorities, a shopping center was hit in an attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. The Russian state news agency Tass, citing emergency services, reported at least two dead and seven injured. Video footage released by the Russian agency Ria Novosti showed thick clouds of smoke billowing out of a completely burnt-out building.
The fire in the Galaktika shopping center was the result of an attack by the Ukrainian armed forces, wrote the head of the Donetsk region annexed by Russia, Denis Pushilin, in his Telegram channel. An area of more than 10,000 square meters was on fire. A hospital was also hit. According to local authorities, the district in which the shopping center is located was the target of artillery fire by the Ukrainian army. The information could not be independently verified.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
