For now, Russian military commanders are relying on existing units , located near the international border, and the readily available forces in the rear, most of which are staffed with conscripts and irregulars, to resist Ukraine's incursion into Kursk Oblast.
According to an analysis by the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia is currently reluctant to move forces from the east to prevent Ukraine from disrupting the Russian advance on that stretch of the front.
When the Ukrainian invasion began, Russian conscripts, FSB border guards and fighters from the Chechen special forces unit "Akhmat" operating under the command of the Russian Ministry of Defense were operating in the Kursk region. At the same time, analysts say, the Russian military command soon transferred to the Kursk region forces from the operational reserve, additional units staffed with conscripts, Spetsnaz (GRU), Special Operations Forces (SSO), additional Chechen special forces "Akhmat" , operating under the leadership of the Russian Defense Ministry, the 1st Corps of the Army of the Donetsk People's Republic (AK DNR) and former members of the "Wagner" group, to protect themselves from further Ukrainian advance and regain their territory.
"It is possible that the Russian military command is currently moving more experienced and better equipped units from eastern or southern Ukraine to the Kursk region, but it will likely take additional time for these units to arrive in the Kursk region." ;, noted by ISW.
However, on August 9, a Russian military correspondent claimed that units of the Northern Force Group's 44th Army Corps were operating near Rilsk, suggesting that the Russian military command may be moving units assembled by the Northern Force Group for an offensive operation in the northern part of Kharkiv region.
"This military correspondent's claim, if true, suggests that the Russian military command is assessing the Ukraine operation as more significant. The significant redeployment of elements of the Northern troop group to the Kursk region suggests that the Russian military command has decided that the interruption of the offensive operation in the northern part of the Kharkiv region is a necessary sacrifice in order to properly respond to the Ukrainian incursion, while avoiding a redeployment from more priority frontline units", notes ISW.
At the same time, analysts stress that a larger redeployment of Russian troops from frontline areas is likely to be slower, and more combat-ready units may start arriving in the Kursk region only in a few days.