Putin blames other officials for situation in Kursk region – ISW

The Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin, is actively attempting to showcase his competence in security matters along the Ukraine border while also attempting to shift blame for problems in the Kursk region onto other officials in the Russian government.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports this.

American analysts say Putin is portraying himself as a competent handler of the situation, even with the significant issues arising from the Ukrainian invasion.

On August 12, the Russian dictator held a meeting with the military, security forces, and representatives of federal and regional authorities dedicated to the situation in the Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions. At the meeting he:

• set a task for the military and power structures in the Kursk region,
• gave an assessment of the political situation resulting from the invasion.

Putin scolded the Acting Governor of the Kursk region, Aleksey Smirnov, for addressing matters that, according to the president, should be handled by the Russian Ministry of Defense. He instructed Smirnov to only focus on discussing the socio-economic concerns of the region.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin's leader responded to First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov's statement that "all other issues are under control," observing that Manturov failed to address several crucial social issues.

In response, Belgorod's Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov urged Putin to implement social programs to assist the population. Both Gladkov and Bryansk's Governor Aleksandr Bogomaz avoided criticism from the dictator by refraining from commenting on military matters.

Putin is trying to present himself as capable of controlling and understanding the situation.

Putin's assertion that each official has only one responsibility contrasts with his attempt to frame himself as capable of overseeing and competently understanding the political, socio-economic, and military situation along the international border," US analysts note.

The Kremlin has also published videos and transcripts of speeches from regional leaders, likely to demonstrate their accountability for the ongoing issues and their reliance on Putin's assistance. Meanwhile, the proceedings of the meeting with the military and security forces were not made available to the public.

The move is likely a warning to other Russian officials to refrain from commenting on the situation with the Ukrainian invasion. Putin delegated tasks to the Ministry of Defense of Russia, the Federal Security Service, and the Russian Guard, emphasizing the need to coordinate operations and create unified command and control structures in the Kursk region.

According to Putin, the main task of the Ministry of Defense is to expel Ukrainian forces from Russian territory.

ISW key findings as of August 12:

• Putin delegated overlapping tasks to the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD), Federal Security Service (FSB), and the Russian Guard (Rosgvardia) in the Ukrainian-Russian border area — further highlighting how the Russian force grouping in the Kursk region is struggling to establish the joint command and control (C2) structures necessary to coordinate operations.
• Putin offered several assessments about Ukrainian operations in the Kursk region, including one that undermined a long-standing Kremlin information operation falsely portraying Ukraine as unwilling to engage in legitimate, good-faith negotiations and putting the onus for peace negotiations on Ukraine.
• Ukrainian forces appear to be advancing further within the Kursk region despite recent military bloggers' claims that Russian forces were stabilizing the frontline in the Kursk region.
• Regional Russian officials appear to be offering notably frank assessments of the ongoing Ukrainian incursion.
• Senior Ukrainian officials provided updates about the ongoing Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region and warned that Russian forces may stage war crimes in the Kursk region in order to discredit Ukraine and Western support for Ukraine.
• Ukrainian forces reportedly conducted a drone strike against a Russian airbase in the Moscow region on the night of August 11 to 12.
• Russian forces recently advanced near Vovchansk, Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, and Pokrovsk.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) emphasized Russia's international defense ties at the Army-2024 International Military-Technical Forum in Moscow, likely in an effort to expand international military-technical cooperation and posture strong defense relations with Russia-friendly states.

For reference:

On the morning of August 6, information appeared on Russian Telegram channels that Ukrainian defenders allegedly broke through the border and entered the territory of the Kursk region, Russia.

The Russian Federation's dictator, Vladimir Putin, recently had a virtual meeting with the acting governor of the Kursk region, Aleksey Smirnov, and encouraged him to stay strong and composed. Additionally, the Russian government has announced plans to provide 10,000 rubles ($116) to residents of the Kursk region who evacuated from high-risk areas.

According to the Washington Post, Ukraine now controls the Suja gas measuring station, which is located approximately 8 kilometers deep in Russia. Russia does not deny this.

On August 12, President Volodymyr Zelensky and Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's armed forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, directly confirmed the Ukrainian military's offensive operation in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation for the first time. Currently, Ukrainian troops control about a thousand square kilometers of Russian territory.

It is worth noting that as of August 12, the Ukrainian army controls approximately 44 settlements in the Kursk region of Russia, reports DeepState.