The Battlefield of Fragile Gains and Unyielding Resolve

The dust rarely settles in the shadow of war—it never quite does. In the Kursk region, Ukraine made its move, not in haste but with intent, seizing land on August 6 that, for a time, felt like no one’s. A sudden push, catching Russian forces as if mid-breath, opened the door to nearly 500 square miles of new ground. But nothing comes without consequence—has this bold thrust toward Kursk strained Ukraine’s defenses in Donetsk, where Russian boots inch ever closer to the vital hub of Pokrovsk?

This is how Ukraine used GBU-39 small diameter high precision bombs to destroy the gathering places of the Russian army in Kursk region.#gbu39 pic.twitter.com/I3HxevUW4f

— realwarmonitor (@realwarmonitor) September 15, 2024

Russia, although looks, slow to react, can never be taken into account as idle for long. The counterattacks have started—Ukraine’s left flank feels the pressure. But the battlefield news arrives in fragments, drifting in from bloggers and cryptic reports, half-shadows and half-truths. Snagost, Glushkovo—names whispered in claims that Russia has regained some ground. Yet on the other side, voices like (((Tendar))), a watcher from afar, paint a different picture—Ukraine still digging its heels into Veseloe. The fog thickens as the war inches forward, with neither side willing to let up.

But here’s what doesn’t blur—Ukraine’s forces have moved close enough to Glushkovo to make Russia sweat. If they manage to cut through, south of the Seym River, it’s not just land that’s at risk—it’s supply lines, it’s positions, it’s the fragile hold Russia has in that region. Kyiv may have baited Moscow into spreading too thin—pushing them to defend a place they hadn’t braced for. It’s been said, quietly, that Ukraine is now anticipating Russia’s moves—like reading ahead in a worn-out playbook.

In the #Kursk region, #Russian Armed Forces soldiers are encountering almost all the equipment from #NATO countries that was supplied to #Ukraine – and almost all of it burns well, says the commander of the special forces reconnaissance group “Akhmat” with the call sign Aid. pic.twitter.com/FNpkDOsgDk

— Arthur Morgan (@ArthurM40330824) September 16, 2024

But certainty is elusive. On the ground, the lines are never clear. Reports trickle in—Russia claiming advances near Lyubimovka and pushing in Malaya Loknya. The Institute for the Study of War says their progress is modest, at best—tentative steps in a conflict that demands great leaps. In the village of Oktyabr, movements forward are as quickly undone, each gain feeling impermanent, like water slipping through fingers.

President Zelensky, unwavering amid it all, stands firm. Just last week, he spoke of the growing Russian presence in Kursk— around 35,000 soldiers now entrenched there and there is every chance of sudden swelling.. And yet, he remains resolute, calling his troops “heroic,” men and women who face a force much larger, more established, but not more determined. This war is now as much a test of will as it is of strength.

Air predator strikes enemy

A Ka-52 helicopter delivered a strike by aircraft armament at manpower and armoured hardware of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the border area of Kursk region.

After the use of aviation strike assets, the crews performed a manoeuvre, releasing decoy… pic.twitter.com/0LDwvwjTXZ

— Russia Truth (autonomous pro-Kremlin infowarrior) (@Russia_Truth) September 16, 2024

Across the Atlantic, the U.S. watches, calculating. General Pat Ryder, in a measured voice, said that Russia would need 50,000 troops—twenty full brigades—to push Ukraine out of Kursk. And still, even with these numbers, Russia’s moves, he said, are “marginal” at best. The road ahead, for both sides, is long, with no clear end in sight. Each step is weighed, each strike hesitant, the future uncertain.

Kursk— what once was a borderland where nothing much happened— has in the process become a place where decisions are made and lives are spent. Each move feels heavier, the ground less certain beneath their feet. But retreat isn’t an option. Not for Ukraine. Not for Russia. Not when so much has already been risked.

Major Points

• Ukraine’s bold push in the Kursk region captured nearly 500 square miles of contested land.
• Russian counterattacks have begun, but progress remains unclear and fragmented.
• Ukraine’s advance threatens Russian supply lines, potentially forcing Russia to spread thin.
• President Zelensky praises his troops’ determination, despite facing a larger Russian force.
• U.S. officials remain skeptical, noting that Russia’s gains are modest and insufficient for a decisive victory.

RM Tomi – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News