Russia Diverts Troops to Counter Ukraine’s Kursk Offensive

Russian forces have launched a counteroffensive to the Kursk incursion as Ukrainian troops continue to secure their gains, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stating that:."A Ukrainian military commandant's office is being established there [in the captured territories]. Several other settlements have also been liberated. In total, more than eighty.".Ukrainian Territorial Advances.Zelensky claimed today, August 15, that Kyiv forces have taken full control of the Russian town of Sudzha in the Kursk region..The city, located near the Ukraine border, is of strategic importance due to its position and the nearby key gas infrastructure, including pipelines that transport natural gas from Russia to Europe; control over Sudzha allows for the disruption or monitoring of these energy routes, which are vital for both Russia's economy and European countries' energy supplies..Concurrently, Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) forces have announced the capture of a group of soldiers in the Kursk Oblast, including members of the Chechen "Akhmat" special forces unit (see below). This event is reported as the largest surrender of Russian soldiers to date, with an alleged 102 military personnel taken as prisoners of war (POW)..Russian Counter Measures and Advances in Donetsk.As the Kursk offensive continues, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov announced the deployment of additional forces to Belgorod Oblast to contain the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region, amid attempts by Ukrainian forces to penetrate Belgorod..It is still unclear where those troops may come from and how many of them will be diverted to ensure the defense of Kursk. According to US and Ukrainian officials, relocated troops may represent several brigade-sized elements, each consisting of at least 1,000 troops. CNN, citing Western intelligence sources, reports that these reinforcements are primarily untrained conscripts, suggesting that they are being drawn from regions within Russia rather than from the frontlines in Donbas, where Moscow has been advancing (see below). In addition, according to US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby:."[Involving new troops] doesn't mean that Mr. Putin has given up military operations in the northeast part of Ukraine or even down towards the south, towards places like Zaporizhya.".Following this announcement, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed on Telegram that several localities in Kursk Oblast previously captured by Ukrainian units have been retaken. These include the village of Kroupets, located 10 km from the Ukrainian border, and Martynovka, 8 km northeast of the strategic gas station in Sudzha. Additionally, Russian forces reportedly repelled attempts by Ukrainian mobile groups to advance deeper into Russian territory in the areas of Varvarovka, Safonovka, Sheptukhovka, Kauchuk, and Alekseevskoye..Apti Alaudinov, Deputy Chief of the Main Military-Political Directorate and Commander of the "Akhmat" special forces, also reported during an interview with Rossiya-24 that ongoing Russian operations were targeting the villages of Cherkassy, Porechny, and Russky Porechny..Further south, on the Donetsk front, the Russian MoD claims to have made gains, reporting the capture of the village of Ivanivka, located about 15 kilometers from the strategic city of Pokrovsk, which serves as a key logistical hub in the region. It is also reported that Russian troops have also reached the outskirts of Hrodivka, a locality situated approximately 10 km from Pokrovsk..Overall, Alaudinov claims that Ukrainian forces have concentrated approximately 12,000 troops in the Kursk region, allegedly redirecting reserves from the front lines to reinforce their positions in Kursk. If true, this would highlight the importance of these gains for the Ukrainian leadership..Apty Alaudinov and the "Akhmat" Special Forces Unit.Apti Alaudinov is a prominent Russian military figure who serves as the Deputy Chief of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Russia. The Directorate is responsible for overseeing political education, morale, and ideological work within the Russian Armed Forces, including ensuring the loyalty and discipline of troops, promoting patriotism, and managing propaganda efforts within the military..In addition to this high-ranking role, Alaudinov is also the commander of the "Akhmat" special forces unit. This Chechen special forces group operates under both the Russian National Guard and the MoD and is named after Akhmad Kadyrov, the father of current Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. The unit has been involved in various military operations, including the Second Chechen War on the side of Russian loyalists and more recently in the War in Donbas. The "Akhmat" unit is also allegedly used for internal repression of political opponents within Chechnya..Alaudinov's dual roles position him as a key figure in coordinating both the strategic military operations and the political aspects of military engagements, particularly in regions like Ukraine where Russian forces are actively engaged..Negotiations for POW Exchange.The Financial Times has reported that Ukraine and Russia have begun talks on a prisoner exchange involving those captured in the Kursk region. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's human rights commissioner, confirmed that discussions with his Russian counterpart have begun, focusing on exchanging seriously wounded soldiers, Ukrainian women, and other captives..Ukraine's military intelligence also confirmed that it is actively working on the exchange. Although Kyiv has not disclosed the exact number of Russian prisoners, officials have indicated that the figure is in the hundreds.