Ukraine put a whooping on a 2nd bridge. Needs another strike to completely destroy it.
The Washington Post takes a look at how Putin is handling the incursion, at some length, and concludes that (a) it shows a recurrent weakness in how he handles a crisis, and (b) it’s not going to lead to his ouster.
This should be a gift link.
The second bridge strike has apparently trapped 700 Russian soldiers. The source is Ukrainian so take with a pinch of salt.
Not for me. Sorry, but I appreciate the thought!
Well, darn it – the WashPost said my share was one of my monthly gift articles. Lemme see if I can pick out a quote or two. Here’s the headline:
Kremlin response to Kursk incursion shows how Putin freezes in a crisis
When Russian President Vladimir Putin’s authority is tested, his response often lacks quick, decisive action that lives up to his bellicose rhetoric.
Some text of the article, starting at the beginning:
Moscow’s slow, fumbling military response to Ukraine’s surprise occupation of parts of the western Kursk region is the latest example of the Kremlin chief failing to respond with quick, decisive action to match his bellicose rhetoric.
The Kursk incursion is the fourth major blow to Putin’s authority since his February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and highlights the weaknesses of a top-down autocracy that operates largely on fear and punishment.
Another paragraph:
During a televised meeting of security officials on Monday, Putin appeared more rattled than usual as he read remarks from a thick notepad of scrawled black handwriting. He also irritably cut off Kursk’s acting governor, Andrei Smirnov, when he dared to openly disclose the scale of the incursion: 28 villages captured and at least 2,000 Russians missing in territory taken by Ukraine.
And this is from the part discussing why the latest crisis won’t topple Putin, and is as much as fair use would permit, I believe. The whole article is much longer.
But the continued damage to Putin’s authority after a catastrophic war and repeated shocks does not translate to an internal threat to his power. Nor is there a risk his regime might collapse in the foreseeable future, according to analysts.
Stanovaya said that many Russians, particularly members of the elite, had come to expect the worst in the war but realized that there was no alternative to Putin in Russia’s repressive political system.
It is, but you have to log in (with a free account) to access it.
Several Kursk updates since yesterday. Two more Russian villages, Snagost and Apanasovka were captured.
Meanwhile, Russia is poised to take the city of Pokrovsk, which would be a big setback for Ukraine.
Pokrovsk is one of Ukraine’s main defensive strongholds and a key logistics hub in the Donetsk region. Its capture would compromise Ukraine’s defensive abilities and supply routes and would bring Russia closer to its stated aim of capturing the entire Donetsk region.
Germany has updated the list of military aid delivered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine:
- 2 IRIS-T SLS launchers
- 10 Sonobot 5 USVs
- 26 Vector UAVs
- 1 Bergepanzer
- 2 ARV 6 High Mobility Engineer Excavators (armoured)
- 50 CR 308 rifles
- 10 HLR 338 precision rifles
- 700 MK 556 assault rifles
- 14,000 155mm shells
- Material for explosive ordnance disposal
- 55,000 First aid kits
Expecting a large US transfer shortly.
Quite a nice setup. It probably had been a rear area base for years.
The communication gear might provide intel on the locations of other units.
When this Kursk campaign started, everyone thought that it was a quick in-and-out raid. I wonder, was that Ukraine’s actual original plan? Maybe they were as caught by surprise as everyone else by the lack of resistance, and just adapted the plan on the fly to sticking around and expanding into more territory.
Of course, that adaptability is a symptom of Ukraine’s democratic leadership, as opposed to Russia’s autocratic inflexibility, and is a large part of why Ukraine has fared as well as it has in this war.
The soldiers in Kursk were mostly poorly trained conscripts. I agree Ukraine has been surprised at how unprepared Kursk was for war. I’ve read the road signs were still up.
I am surprised a Chechen “Akhmat” special forces unit also surrendered. Don’t they chew nails for breakfast? 
More on the recent surrender. The pictures show a well built trench complex. Stocked with weapons, ammunition and food. Ukraine may want to use it for their area operations.
Link Ukraine Nabs Over 100 Russian Troops in Kursk – Largest Capture in a Single Operation
3rd and final bridge destroyed in Kursk, will probably make resupply of Russian troops very difficult.
It’s a huge diesel oil fire. 500 firefighters are battling it. Very Difficult to put out.
Meanwhile Civilians flee Pokrovsk as Russia’s army bears down on the key eastern Ukraine city. Nothing Ukraine does breaks the focus of the Russian military on taking Pokrovsk.
Guardian live
Ukraine drones attack Moscow suburb.
I think, that UKR being already “behind” the front line, can send now pretty much anything the start out of that salient to any (unprotected) target in RU.
I wonder why they are not plastering Kursk-City (relevant targets, not civil ones) … to create some sort of a highted sense of urgency of people less than 50km away from the frontline … a stampede of 500.000 people would put a lot of pressure and strain on the small man?
The main point of invading Kursk and Belgorod Oblasts (and eventually Voronezh and Rostov) is to cut off the Russian army from its supply lines, the same reason for attacking the bridge to Crimea. Hitting relevant targets near the city will be helpful, but Ukraine army really wants to work toward encircling the Russians and squeezing their already weak logistics.
So if you’re using Tinder or Bumble and you’re near the Kursk area, you may want to delete your profile, or you might get in trouble. And put away your phone!
information on twitter and reddit (so preparte to take with a healthy dose of salt for the time being!) inform of a newly opened front where UKR is entering RU - right next to Gomel
https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/1ey07xr/special_operation_in_bryansk/
the sector of the map is right in the part where RU, UKR and BELARUS are joining …
probably have to wait a couple of days to get a (true/false) confirmation
It seems to me like it would be a good spot to attack. Attacking Ukrainian forces will be protected on the flank next to Belarus, assuming Lukashenko stays out of it.