Ukrainian forces have breached Russian defenses near the village of Novyi Put in Russia’s Kursk region. Ukrainian sappers, supported by tanks and airstrikes, advanced into Russian territory using an ex-Soviet IMR-2 engineering vehicle. This marks the latest incursion by Ukraine into Russian soil.
Ukrainian forces have advanced around Novyi Put and are now focusing on cutting off Russian troops stationed in the region. Kyiv’s forces are attempting to encircle Russian units by linking up with their main offensive in the Kursk salient, aiming to trap thousands of Russian soldiers. The encirclement strategy hinges on the control of critical crossing points over the Seym River, where Ukrainian bombs have destroyed all permanent bridges. Russian forces rely on temporary pontoon bridges and a narrow land route near Korenevo for resupply, making these areas a focal point for Ukrainian attacks.
According to Ukrainian military sources, thousands of Russian troops, many of them poorly trained conscripts, risk being surrounded as Ukrainian forces press forward. Roman Pogorilyi, founder of the Ukrainian intelligence outlet DeepState, confirmed that Russian units were at risk of encirclement in a “gray zone” near Novyi Put.
⚔️В Крем’яному кацапи перебувають в оточенні вже певний час
📋З перших днів Курської операції, противник в населеному пункті фактично перебував у оперативному оточенні. За останній час вдалося повністю оточити угрупування в селі, але періодично відбуваються успішні спроби… pic.twitter.com/VlWYGFLJio
— DeepState UA (@Deepstate_UA) September 16, 2024
Russia has sent an estimated 38,000 troops into the Kursk region to reinforce its positions, according to Ukrainian estimates. Moscow claims it has repelled several Ukrainian attempts to penetrate deeper into the region, with five new attacks reported in recent days. Despite these claims, Russian forces have struggled to make significant gains in the region, with only minor recaptures reported.
Russia’s counterattacks, which began last week, have had limited success and may have worsened the situation for Moscow by sending additional troops into a potential encirclement south of Korenevo. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) confirmed that fighting continues in the Glushkovsky district as Ukrainian forces advance toward Glushkovo and south of Korenevo.
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