Ukrainian military advances southeast of Sudzha in Kursk region — ISW
Фото: Скриншот з відео / Фейсбук / Командування Десантно-штурмових військ Збройних Сил України
The Ukrainian Armed Forces are not only continuing their advance in the Kursk region of Russia but are also intensifying operations southeast of Sudzha. As of August 16, there have been notable developments on this front.
Rubryka reports on this, citing the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
According to American analysts, "Ukrainian forces continued to marginally advance southeast of Sudzha on August 16 amid continued Ukrainian operations in Kursk region."
ISW highlights that Ukrainian forces have recently made progress southeast of Sudzha, particularly around the villages of Borki and Spalnoye.
Additionally, hostilities are ongoing:
- To the north of Sudzha near Russky Porechny,
- To the east near Agronomist,
- To the southeast along the Gir'i-Komyshne-Krupets-Spalnoye line.
Photo: ISW map
American experts in the report note that geolocated images published on August 15 confirm the activity of Ukrainian troops in the specified areas.
Meanwhile, Russian military bloggers claim that Ukrainian forces have also advanced east of Mirny and south of Spalnoye. Additionally, Russian sources report Ukrainian attacks south of Gordeevka and west of Anastasyevka.
"Geolocated footage published on August 15 and 16 indicates that Ukrainian forces continue to operate throughout the maximalist claimed limit of Ukrainian advances within Kursk region, including near Sudzha," ISW noted.
The Russian Ministry of Defense, in response, announced that they had repelled Ukrainian attacks, specifically mentioning an armored assault in the direction of Gordiyivka and attacks west of Anastasiyivka and southeast of Kauchuk. Russian bloggers also reported strikes on Ukrainian forces near Otruba.
Ukrainian officials have confirmed the continued advance, noting that Ukrainian troops have progressed by one to three kilometers in various areas of the Kursk region. Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, also confirmed the ongoing activities of Ukrainian forces and mentioned that the invasion has prompted Russia to more seriously consider the possibility of prisoner-of-war exchanges.
Key takeaways as of August 16:
Ukrainian forces continued to marginally advance southeast of Sudzha on August 16 amid continued Ukrainian operations in Kursk region.
- Ukrainian strikes reportedly destroyed two bridges in Glushkovo Raion, Kursk region.
- Ukrainian forces reportedly advanced further into western Belgorod region during recent cross-border assaults than previously reported, but available open-source reporting and evidence indicate that Ukrainian forces no longer maintain positions within Belgorod region as of August 16.
- Ukrainian officials reported that Ukrainian forces continued to advance in Kursk region and suggested that the incursion has forced Russia to more readily consider prisoner-of-war (POW) exchanges.
- The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Office (UN OHCHR) requested that Russian authorities allow UN representatives to visit Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod regions as part of a human rights monitoring mission.
- US officials reiterated that US policy on Ukraine's ability to use US-provided weapons to conduct long-range strikes against Russian military targets has not changed amid the ongoing Ukrainian incursion into Kursk region.
- The Kremlin reportedly fired former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's advisor on information policy Andrei Ilnitsky possibly as part of an ongoing effort to shift control of Russia's wartime information policy from the Ministry of Defense (MoD) to the Russian Presidential Administration.
- Russian forces recently advanced near Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, and Pokrovsk.
- Russian milbloggers claimed on August 16 that Russian drone operators are limiting their use of Mavic drones amid claims that Russian commanders are forcing operators to either personally pay to replace drones lost outside of combat or risk being sent to an infantry assault unit as punishment for losing a drone.
We would like to remind you that despite the ongoing operation by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, and efforts to replenish the exchange fund, a "all for all" prisoner exchange should not be expected in the near future.
However, the actions of the Armed Forces in the Kursk region have positively impacted the situation regarding the return of Ukrainian citizens, both from Russian territory and from the occupied territories of Ukraine. Lubinets noted that the Ukrainian side is aiming to leverage this situation to negotiate fair agreements on exchanges, particularly regarding the principles of conducting these exchange processes.
