Russian FSB faces coordination challenges with military amid counterterrorism operation in Kursk — ISW

The Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) is actively engaged in operations in the Kursk region, attempting to coordinate combat missions with the Russian military.

Rubryka reports, referencing the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta Europe reported the identification of an FSB special forces soldier who was killed in fighting in Kursk region in August 2024, confirming the involvement of FSB special forces in the region.

Quoting an FSB officer, Novaya Gazeta stated that the agency has deployed special forces, including elements from the "Alpha" and "Vympel" groups, with the mission of identifying and neutralizing Ukrainian sabotage and intelligence units in Kursk.

The officer noted that these FSB groups are poorly equipped for combined operations with heavy machinery against regular armed forces. Traditionally, FSB Special Forces have focused on counterterrorism against small groups and may lack the necessary training and equipment to effectively engage Ukrainian units in coordinated attacks.

Another source close to the Russian special services told Novaya Gazeta that the FSB Special Operations Center does not have a "joint link" with Russian military units and that a joint headquarters for coordinating combat missions between the FSB and the military has yet to be established.

Following the onset of a Ukrainian operation on August 6, Russian leader Vladimir Putin ordered the FSB to initiate a counter-terrorism operation in the Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions on August 9. However, he subsequently continued to assign overlapping tasks to the Ministry of Defense (MoD), the FSB, and Russia's National Guard.

The Kremlin and the Russian military command have attempted to establish a coherent and effective command and control structure in response to the operation in the Kursk region. However, it remains unclear what responsibilities lie within the purview of the FSB's counter-terrorist operation versus those of the Coordinating Council of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

According to the preliminary assessment by ISW, the ongoing duplication of tasks and weak organizational structures are likely to continue causing friction between the FSB and the Ministry of Defense.

Key ISW takeaways as of September 26

• Germany, France, and the United States announced several immediate and more long-term aid packages for Ukraine on September 25 and 26.
• The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) is reportedly struggling to coordinate combat tasks with the Russian military despite having control over the counterterrorism operation against the Ukrainian incursion in Kursk Oblast.
• Russian and Ukrainian forces continued assaults in Kursk Oblast but neither side made further advances in the area.
• Russian forces recently advanced north of Kharkiv City and Chasiv Yar and east and southeast of Pokrovsk.
• Russian milbloggers criticized the Russian military command for holding joint military exercises with Laos, arguing that such exercises demonstrate that Russia is not learning from its battlefield experience in Ukraine.