Ukraine may set up military commandos in Kursk region, while Russia digs new trenches

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Ukrainian officials on 14 August to discuss security, humanitarian aid and military aspects of the "situation in Kursk Region".

Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lyubynets attended the meeting and stressed that Ukrainian forces had formed a "buffer (sanitary) zone" in Kursk Region for self-defence purposes.

Zelensky also said that Ukraine pays special attention to the border zone in Kursk Region to ensure the security of Ukraine's borders with Russia, repeating previous statements by Ukrainian officials which emphasise that Ukraine has the right to defend itself against Russian aggression.

According to the Ukrainian parliamentary commissioner for human rights, Dmytro Lubinets, the issue of setting up military commandantates in Kursk Region was discussed. This decision may be taken in order to coordinate the actions of Ukrainian military units in the region and provide humanitarian aid to the local population.

Lubinets stressed that the Ukrainian military command will decide whether the commandant's offices will appear or not and the decision will be based on the principles of international law. The initiative to set up the commandant's offices appeared against the background of the tense situation on the border, where the defence on the Russian side was mainly provided by conscripts and border guards.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, emphasised in an interview with Meduza that Ukraine's main political goals in the ongoing Kursk operation:

• to push Russian artillery away from areas from which Russian forces could target Ukrainian civilians;
• block Russian logistical lines that allow Russian forces to supply reserves throughout the theatre of operations; draw domestic and international attention to the failures of Russia's civilian and military leadership;
• and bring the war directly into Russian territory.

AFU breakthrough in Kursk region: Russia is digging new trenches

According to CNN, a large ditch has appeared near the town of Lgov in the Kursk region, which, according to speculation, may serve as a new defensive frontier for Russian troops. The ditch has been dug in a strategic location - near the main 38K-017 Kursk-Lygov-Rylsk motorway and railway line - indicating the Russians' increased focus on protecting infrastructure.

L'gov is located about 60 kilometres from the Ukrainian border by road and 40 kilometres from what is believed to be the largest AFU penetration deep into Russia. This makes the city a key point in Russian defence plans, as controlling it helps secure important transport routes and deter further advances by Ukrainian forces.

However, according to The New York Times, it will be an extremely difficult task for Ukrainian forces to hold their positions in the Kursk region. The terrain allows the Russians to organise attacks from several directions, which makes the defence of the extracted positions much more difficult. Despite this, the fact of the breakthrough itself creates serious problems for Russia, because in order to effectively defend its territory, it is forced to transfer additional forces from other fronts, which could weaken its position in Ukraine.

We shall remind you that the Institute for the Study of War reported that Ukrainian troops had taken control of 41 settlements in Kursk Region. At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 13 August that Ukrainian forces controlled 74 populated areas in Kursk Region.

By the way, Russia started withdrawing some of its troops from the territory of Ukraine in response to the invasion of Ukrainian forces in Kursk Region.