Russia's Kursk Counteroffensive Has So Far Been Exercise In Lethal Failure

Russia's highly anticipated Kursk counterattack has largely been a failure so far. 

The Ukrainians were prepared for most of the assaults and beat them back, inflicting heavy casualties. Even the appearance of new armor has made little to no difference. This experience shows that the Russians can generally be expected to do what is expected, allowing Ukrainian forces to defend effectively. JL

Euromaidan Press reports:

After a month of preparations, the Russians initiated new counterattacks to recapture Kursk oblast. (But), Ukrainians took advantage of the operational pause, enabling some of their most elite units to face the Russian assaults. As anticipated, the Russians launched a major assault north of Pogrebki deploying 15 BTRs and 150 men from the 810th Marine Brigade, with North Koreans. Landmines wiped out the first three vehicles and an entire platoon before reaching Ukrainian lines. Five of 15 BTRs were destroyed by landmines. Ukrainians then destroyed nine more BTRs using drones, landmines, and RPGs, forcing a Russian retreat. Their  assault failed as entire assault units were wiped out.

Today there are significant updates from the Kursk direction.

The Russian operational goal was to trap Ukrainian forces northwest of Malaya Loknya in a pocket after capturing the town. Ukraine deployed four of its best units to defend. Screenshot from video.

After over a month of preparations, the Russians initiated a new wave of counterattacks to recapture Malaya Loknya from two axes of advance, with the engagement of North Koreans. However, Ukrainians took advantage of the operational pause, enabling them to fully prepare some of their most elite units to face the Russian assaults.

The Russian plan in this area was to advance 4 kilometers along a paved road toward Malaya Loknya, aiming for the town near the settlement of Pogrebki. A second route was planned to the west of Malaya Loknya, advancing via the road from Novoivanovka. Gaining control of Malaya Loknya would allow the Russians to cut off Ukrainian forces positioned north of the town and secure a large northern area, thereby extending their counteroffensive southward toward Sudzha.

Ukrainian defensive plans consisted of remote mining and drone attacks to counter the Russian mechanized meat assaults. Screenshot from video.

Some of Ukraine’s most elite and experienced units, including the 47th Mechanized Brigade, 82nd Airmobile Brigade, 17th Mechanized Brigade, and 80th Airmobile Brigade, were tasked with defending this area. Given these units’ expertise and strong leadership, they anticipated repeated large-scale Russian mechanized assaults along the paved roads to Malaya Loknya. Recognizing that the Russians could only attack from two directions due to the limited road access, Ukrainian commanders prepared by deploying substantial drone units and implementing remote mining along these roads to counter the assault.

Ukrainian forces knocked out two Russian BTRs near Pogrebki. Screenshot from video.

As anticipated, the Russians launched a major assault north of Pogrebki along the road to Malaya Loknya, deploying around 15 BTRs and over 150 soldiers from the Russian 810th Marine Brigade, reportedly with North Korean troops. The assault hit landmines immediately, wiping out the first three vehicles and an entire platoon before reaching Ukrainian-controlled areas. By the time Russian forces entered Pogrebki, five of the 15 BTRs had already been destroyed by landmines alone. Ukrainians then destroyed nine more BTRs around Pogrebki using a combination of drones, landmines, and RPGs, forcing a desperate Russian retreat. Only one BTR managed to reach the rear but was soon eliminated, marking the total destruction of the Russian column.

A North Korean-made Type 73 machine gun was spotted on the battlefield near Pogrebki, suggesting North Koreans were used in the attack. Screenshot from video. Published footage by the Ukrainian troops from the area reveals that North Korean Type 73 machine guns were discovered scattered around the eliminated column. This implies the gradual inclusion of North Korean soldiers in Russian storming operations as their numbers of deployed fighters are slowly growing in Kursk.

A Ukrainian tank from the 17th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade assaults Russian positions near Novoivanovka. Screenshot from video.

Anticipating a coordinated Russian assault from Novoivanovka to align with the attack toward Pogrebki, Ukrainians deployed tanks from the 17th Mechanized Brigade to disrupt Russian force concentrations preparing for the offensive. Combat footage shows Ukrainian tanks conducting a raid on Russian positions in nearby forests. After effectively neutralizing these assault forces and eliminating the threat, the Ukrainian tanks withdrew without incurring any losses.

Russia plans to continue its counteroffensive with assaults on Malaya Loknya with North Korean troops. Screenshot from video.

Overall, the Russians launched their largest assault in the direction of Malaya Loknya in hopes of repeating the success of their previous operations in Kursk but failed as their entire assault units were wiped out. As the intensity of Russian attacks in Kursk is growing with a relatively low number of troops for broader offensive operations, they are hurrying to include North Korean troops in their further offensive efforts, however with disastrous efficiency so far.