Textbook Breach of Russian Defenses Demonstrates Growing Ukrainian Prowess

Ukraine's 49th Engineer Assault Brigade opened the way for the 95th Air Assault Brigade through mine fields and antitank obstacles to initiate the latest Ukrainian breach of  Russian defenses in Kursk oblast.

The attack was successful and demonstrates how much the Ukrainians have learned in the last year about surprise, breaching and exploitation of Russian weaknesses. JL

Yuri Zoria reports in the Euromaidan Press:

The operation appears to be part of a broader campaign by Ukrainian forces along the Russian border. The use of specialized equipment like the UR-77 line-charge launcher suggests a coordinated effort to overcome Russian border defenses. Previously, Russian sources claimed several other incursions into Kursk and nearby Belgorod oblast, most of which possibly were probing attacks, with Ukrainian troops later returning. Several new successful incursions occurred in recent weeks in the direction of Glushkovo, with Ukrainian troops capturing areas near the border.

Ukrainian forces have reportedly breached another section of the Russian border, according to a statement from Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces on 23 September, claiming that the 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade has conducted a successful operation, marking their second incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast since the beginning of the Kursk campaign.

The Kursk incursion, which started early last month, caught both Russians and Ukraine’s allies by surprise and exposed vulnerabilities in Russia’s military despite its advantage in manpower and equipment. Ukraine secured a swath of Russian territory near Sumy Oblast, pushing Russian artillery out of range and disabling cross-border shelling on nearby communities. Ukrainian top general Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Ukraine had seized nearly 1,000 km² of territory inside Russia, compelling the Kremlin to redeploy experienced troops from Ukraine to Kursk.

The Air Assault Forces released video footage documenting various stages of the operation. The video shows a Ukrainian military column approaching the border, the deployment of a UR-77 line-charge launcher to clear obstacles within Russian territory, and the subsequent advancement of assault units into Russia.

“This is already the second successful operation to break through the Russian border since the beginning of the operation in the territory of Russia’s Kursk Oblast,” the Air Assault Forces said in the video caption.

The footage also captures the initial engagements in the border area, with the Air Assault Forces stating that their tank units were “dismantling” a Russian stronghold.

Situation in Russia’s Kursk Oblast (north, northeast) as of 23 September 2024, Ukraine’s adjacent Sumy Oblast is on the south, southwest on the map. Map: Deepstatemap

While the exact location and timing of the attack were not disclosed, the operation appears to be part of a broader campaign by Ukrainian forces along the Russian border. The use of specialized equipment like the UR-77 line-charge launcher suggests a coordinated effort to overcome Russian border defenses.Previously, Russian sources claimed several other incursions into Kursk and nearby Belgorod oblast, most of which possibly were probing attacks, with Ukrainian troops later returning. Several new successful incursions occurred in recent weeks in the direction of Glushkovo, with Ukrainian troops capturing areas near the border. Thus, the video may be showing one of those.