The Russian Defense Ministry announced on August 20 that it would set up troop groups in the Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk regions to defend settlements along the Ukrainian border in the face of the Ukrainian military’s invasion of the Kursk region.
The unprecedented operation by the Ukrainian military, which lasted almost two weeks, resulted in the capture of the town of Sudzha in Kursk Oblast and the alleged destruction of all three bridges over the Seim River near the border with Ukraine.
According to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukrainian forces have advanced 28 to 35 kilometers into Kursk Oblast and have so far brought 93 settlements under control.
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, chairman of the Coordination Council for Military Security in Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk Oblasts, said his ministry had assigned officials to carry out special tasks for the council.
“If it is impossible to solve the problem (in time) at their level, the information will be presented to me personally and I will decide,” he added.
Colonel General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov has been appointed deputy head of the Coordination Council. Other ministry officials will be responsible for logistics, military-technical support, civilian evacuations, engineering, interagency coordination, medical support and protection against drone attacks.
Read also: General Mick Ryan on Ukraine’s strategic calculations in Kursk Oblast
We have worked hard to bring you independent, local news from Ukraine. Please consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
