The Russian command has increased its forces in the Kursk region to 40,000 personnel, but this number is insufficient for displacing Ukrainian units. The grouping includes units that have been withdrawn from the front lines in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, along with several newly formed assault companies. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) fighters continue to hold their positions, occasionally seeking tactical improvements. The commander of the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade of the UAF, Pavel Rozlach, with the call sign "Medved," discussed the current situation along the front lines on Russian territory in an interview with TSN.
Rozlach stated that the Russian Armed Forces command has indeed begun counterattacks in the Kursk region, deploying 30,000 new troops. In his view, the existing Russian forces are inadequate to achieve success and push the Ukrainians back. He estimated that they would need to be three times larger. The commander emphasized that when assessing the UAF's defensive capabilities, one should not rely solely on quantitative ratios from old Soviet textbooks. According to the military, it is also essential to consider the "moral and psychological spirit."
"If you fight steadfastly, that is not enough. (The newly formed assault companies — Ed.) are not a serious opponent. The serious ones come from Donbas: you can feel the difference immediately when a seasoned unit arrives. When units from Donbas came, it was clear that this was something entirely different," Rozlach noted.
The commander of the 80th Air Assault Brigade confirmed that his unit was one of the first to enter the Kursk region, occupying and holding positions for the second consecutive month. The fighters have transitioned to a defensive stance, occasionally attempting to improve their situation.
"We are holding this captured area. In some cases, we are enhancing our tactical position for better defense: leveling some areas, occupying more advantageous positions elsewhere," he said.
It should be noted that the breakthrough into the Kursk region began on August 6, 2024, and within the first few weeks, UAF units took control of approximately 1,300 square kilometers of Russian territory, stated Commander Alexander Syrsky. Initially, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that there had been a minor "provocation at the border," but later issued an order to push the Ukrainians back by October 1. As of October 7, on the birthday of the Russian leader, over 700 square kilometers remain under Ukrainian control, according to the map from DeepState analysts. This map also indicates that Russian counterattacks began around early September, and within a month, the Russian Armed Forces managed to reclaim about 200 square kilometers.
Pavel Rozlach is the commander of the 80th Brigade, who took command shortly before the breakthrough in the Kursk region. His predecessor, Emil Ishkulov, was removed from his position, and at the end of July, the soldiers recorded a video expressing their disagreement with this command decision.
We remind you that on October 14, Forbes reported details about the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war captured by Russians in the Kursk region. Analysts from the DeepState project previously reported on the circumstances of being taken prisoner.