In a significant setback for Russian forces, Ukrainian defenders have reportedly encircled and destroyed elements of Russia’s prestigious 810th Naval Infantry Brigade along the northern edge of Ukraine’s Kursk salient. The incident marks a crucial development in Russia’s troubled eight-day offensive in the region.
Intelligence reports suggest Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an aggressive push to reclaim Ukrainian-held territory in Kursk Oblast before the U.S. presidential transition in January. However, this urgency appears to be costing Russian forces dearly. Despite over a week of intense operations, Russian advances have been limited to mere hundreds of yards while suffering substantial losses exceeding 100 vehicles and estimated thousands of casualties.
The 810th Naval Infantry Brigade, operating alongside North Korean reinforcements, has emerged as a focal point of these losses. Russian military bloggers report the brigade is facing severe attrition due to “unprepared assaults” against well-fortified Ukrainian positions held by the 95th Air Assault Brigade.
Particularly devastating were the initial attacks on November 7-8 near Pogrebki village. Reports indicate brigade officers provided false intelligence about cleared minefields, leading to catastrophic losses when modern BTR-82 vehicles encountered extensive mining and concentrated Ukrainian fire. Ukrainian forces claim to have destroyed 36 Russian vehicles and eliminated 100 Russian marines in just the first two days of fighting.
The 95th Air Assault Brigade’s successful defense has continued, with recent engagements involving Ukrainian M-2 Bradley fighting vehicles successfully engaging Russian forces in Orlovka. Ukrainian forces also report capturing Russian marines during counterattacks in the area.
As the battle for Kursk continues, military analysts note that while Russia is making some territorial gains, the cost in personnel and equipment appears unsustainable. Ukrainian resistance remains resolute, with military observers emphasizing the defenders’ determination to maintain their positions regardless of diplomatic developments.
The situation underscores growing concerns about Russian military command effectiveness, particularly in light of continuing operations based on apparently flawed intelligence and tactical decisions.
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