Photo : Reuters
Photo : Reuters
By Neha Tresa George
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 13 August, Ukrinform reported on Russian forces strike on the infrastructure facilities in the city of Sumy through a missile and an airstrike attack. According to the regional military administration, the onsite emergency services were working on the recovery.
On 13 August, Ukrinform reported on the transfer of military equipment from Crimea to the Kherson region by the Russian troops. According to Crimean Wind, a Telegram channel, a large number of military trucks were transported from Crimea to the administrative border with the Kherson region.
On 14 July, the Financial Times reported on the Ukrainian army’s significant advancements in the second week of the Kursk incursion. According to the report, Ukrainian forces captured hundreds of Russian soldiers following the 30-kilometre advancement and gained “a firm ground in Sudzha and Guyevo and Goncharovka.” The captured soldiers were kept as prisoners of war who could be exchanged in prisoner swap.
On 13 August, Heorhii Tykhyi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said that the Kursk incursion aimed to defend the Ukrainian lives and not to capture any foreign territories. According to him: “Ukraine has no interest in taking over the territory of the Kursk region, but we do want to protect the lives of our people.” He emphasised the report by Oleksandr Syrsky, Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of Ukraine on the 30-kilometre advancement into the Russian territory. He also reiterated Russia’s long-range strikes in the Ukrainian region of Sumy and insisted on assistance to enhance Ukraine’s air capabilities.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 13 August, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that Ukraine had lost over 420 servicemen and 55 armored vehicles in Kursk. According to the reports of the TASS, the Russian forces repelled the Ukrainian troops near the settlements of Obshchy Kolodez, Snagost, Kauchuk and Alekseyevsky, deep inside the Russian territory. Ukrainian armed forces' 82nd airborne assault was intercepted as part of the Russian operation to drive away the troops. A Russian aircraft also destroyed the Ukrainian armed forces' reserves in the areas of Sumy Region.
On 13 August, RT reported on the Defence Ministry of Belarus statement on the delivery of rocket and artillery troops to Russia for military drills. As per the statement, the joint exercise between Belarus and Russia involved the use of multiple rocket launch systems. It also sent Belarusian air defence forces in an Il-76 airlifter to the Ashuluk range in Astrakhan Region in southern Russia to join the Russian military.
THE WEST VIEW
On 13 August, Grant Shapps, British Defence Minister responded to the comment on the Kursk incursion from Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President. He said: “Putin's outrage at Ukraine's audacity to seize around 1,000 square kilometres of Russia's Kursk region should be seen in the context of his illegal occupation of 100 times more Ukrainian soil today.” He added that the war could only end if Russia stopped interfering with the democracy in Ukraine.
On 12 July, John Kirby, White House National Security Communications Advisor expressed his concern over the supply of North Korean missiles to Russia. Although he did not confirm the involvement of Pyongyang missiles, he talked about the security threats it could have on Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific. He justified Ukraine’s actions as a defence mechanism against the Russians. He said: “The only people at war in Ukraine are the Russians; they’re the ones that invaded Ukraine. And Ukraine is defending itself against that aggression.”
References
“What is known about operation to mop up Kursk Region,” TASS, 13 August 2024
“Key ally sends troops to Russia,” RT, 13 August 2024
“Ending war requires Russia to pull from Ukraine: Shapps on Ukraine’s raid in Kursk region,” Ukrinform, 13 August 2024
“Ukraine has no intention to capture Kursk region, only seeking to protect own people from attacks – MFA,” Ukrinform, 13 August 2024
“Russian missile attack targets Sumy infrastructure,” Ukrinform, 13 August 2024
“On-the-Record Press Gaggle by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby,” WH.GOV, 12 August 2024
“Invaders moving military equipment from Crimea toward Kherson region - social media,” Ukrinform, 13 August 2024
“Ukrainian forces seek to hold Russian positions after capturing hundreds of troops,” Financial Times, 14 August 2024