Ukrainian officials and sources report that the Ukrainian invasion of Kursk region has forced Russian authorities to increase the number of their troops in the region almost threefold, writes News.bg.
The spokesman for Ukraine's Northern Operational Command, Vadim Mysnik, said on September 14 that at the beginning of the invasion in August 2024, Russian forces numbered 11,000 people. According to various estimates, the size of the Russian group today varies between 30,000 and 45,000 people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky specified on September 13 that Russia has concentrated 40,000 soldiers in the region and plans to increase their number to 60,000-70,000. The distribution of these forces between the various units, Rosgvardia, border troops, regular and irregular units and mobilized soldiers, remains unclear.
Military observer Konstantin Mashovets indicated that about 61 Russian units with a total of about 35,500 soldiers are operating near the Glushkovsky, Korenevsky, Sudzhansky, Rylsky, Lgovsky, Kurchatovsky and Kursky districts.
This significant increase in Russian forces reflects the operational pressure that the Ukrainian invasion is exerting, forcing the Russian command to transfer units from Ukraine and to mobilize new forces from Russia, rather than keeping them on the front lines in Ukraine itself. It is expected that the Russian counter-offensive to return territories occupied by Ukrainian forces will require even more resources and equipment.
Exchange of prisoners of war
On September 14, Ukraine and Russia held their third exchange of prisoners of war since the invasion of the Kursk region. Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia returned 103 prisoners, including soldiers who participated in the defense of the Azovstal plant; in Mariupol in 2022, officers of the National Police and Border Guard Service of Ukraine, as well as personnel of the State Transport Service and other Ukrainian military.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that Ukraine had returned 103 prisoners of war to Russia captured in the Kursk region, most of whom were mobilized soldiers.
White House Position and Military Observations
Some Russian field commanders continue to make decisions that reduce the quality of their subordinate military units. On September 13, Russian military bloggers reported that two drone operators from the 87th Rifle Regiment (1st “Slavic” Motorized Rifle Brigade, 51st Combined Arms Army) died near Pokrovsk after being sent on a frontal attack as punishment for criticizing the command.
Such cases are reported regularly and involve electronic warfare specialists, snipers, and other soldiers with specific skills who are forced to lead frontal attacks. This, according to observers, reduces the effectiveness of Russian forces.
Course of hostilities
On September 14, Ukrainian forces continued their offensive in the Glushkovo region, with reports and geolocated footage showing control over settlements such as Veseloe (southwest of Glushkovo) and progress west of Medvezhye and south of Tetkino.
In the northern part of Sudzha, Ukrainian forces have captured Cherkasskoye Porechnoye and continue attacks around Korenevo, Lyubimovka, Obukhovka, Maryevka and Ruska Konoelka. At the same time, Russian forces are regaining territory and conducting counterattacks, including mechanized assaults in Lyubimovka and infantry operations by the 810th Marine Brigade in Berki.
International reactions
Former US President Donald Trump threatened Putin with economic war if he did not cease fire in Ukraine.
On September 13, the US State Department imposed sanctions on individuals and entities associated with the Russian media outlet Russia Today, which the department said acts as the Kremlin's "de facto intelligence agency." It is accused of financing military equipment and coordinating election manipulation in Moldova.
The US Department of Justice reported that the Kremlin is conducting a complex operation codenamed "Doppelganger" to reduce support for Ukraine and influence elections in the US and abroad.
King Charles marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with a message about the cost of war, emphasizing that the conflict affects every aspect of life.
Officials from the ruling Georgian Dream party continue to use narratives that reflect Russian information operations to justify the occupation of internationally recognized Georgian territories.
The party's founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili, linked the 2008 war and subsequent Russian occupation to "external factors" and the pro-Western opposition party, failing to mention Russian aggression in order to present Georgian Dream as a party of peace.