Ukrainian offensive stopped across Kursk; Russia captures New York
4 Min Read
The commander of Russia's Akhmat special forces reveals the involvement of a huge number of foreign mercenaries, including servicemen from NATO countries, in the Kursk operation.
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A plate with a sign "Kursk 108 km" is seen on the Russian-Ukrainian border in the Sumy region, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024 (AP)
Ukrainian forces’ attempts to advance have been halted across the entirety of Russia's Kursk region, with their key resources eliminated, confirmed Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Akhmat special forces, adding that Russian troops were now focusing on clearing settlements.
Ukraine launched a large-scale surprise offensive into the Kursk region on August 6.
"The first days we were busy stopping the enemy's main forces, and we succeeded. The enemy was completely stopped along the entire perimeter," Alaudinov said during an interview on Russian television on Tuesday.
The commander indicated that the destruction of major Ukrainian resources, including forward echelons, "inflicted very heavy damage on the enemy. They lost a lot of equipment, tanks, armored vehicles and a lot of infantry."
"I think at the moment, we no longer have to worry that the enemy, no matter how many more resources he has, could pass through the area where we're situated," he affirmed.
Alaudinov also emphasized that the Ukrainian forces were stopped in an unfavorable position and have now begun entrenching themselves.
"It will not be very favorable for them to even defend themselves, because we at the moment already control the supply, transportation – the enemy's logistics," he said.
The commander revealed the involvement of a huge number of foreign mercenaries, including servicemen from NATO countries, in the Kursk operation.
According to Alaudinov, the Kursk operation was orchestrated by NATO powers to divert Russian attention and impede progress in other areas, accompanied by war crimes committed by Ukrainian forces.
"The US and Britain led this operation...This breakthrough was meant to bring us to our knees and choke us," he pointed out.
"Unfortunately, it turned out that the enemy entered Russian territory, civilians died, shot by the enemy as if they were in a shooting gallery."
In an earlier interview with a Chinese war correspondent, Alaudinov estimated that fighting in the Kursk region and the broader special military operation in Ukraine could conclude within the next two to three months.
On Monday, he reported receiving photographic evidence of Russian civilians being "shot point-blank, in the head, in the back of the head," vowing that these acts would be avenged.
Russia's Defense Ministry recently reported that Ukrainian forces lost up to 3,800 troops and 54 tanks.
Russian forces capture key hub New York, in Donetsk
In a related context, Russian forces announced Tuesday the capture of the strategic hub of New York, in the Donetsk People's Republic, east of Ukraine, "as a result of active operations by the Tsentr (Center) Group of Forces units."
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that its troops took control of "one of the largest settlements of the Toretsk agglomeration and the strategically important logistics hub (of) Novgorodskoye," referring to the town by its Soviet-era name.
The town’s name has sparked curiosity, with theories linking it to potential American connections. It was renamed Novgorodskoye – meaning "New City" – by Soviet authorities in 1951, but Ukrainian lawmakers reverted it to New York in 2021.
On Monday, the Ministry also said Russian forces seized the nearby town of Zalizne, close to New York.
Ukraine loses over 680 soldiers in clashes with Russia's Yug group
Meanwhile, Russia's Yug (South) forces have repelled two Ukrainian counterattacks, eliminating over 680 Ukrainian troops in the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
"The AFU [armed forces of Ukraine] lost in total more than 680 troops, four motor vehicles [among other military losses in battles with the southern group]," the Ministry stated.
Elsewhere, it mentioned that Russia's Zapad (West) group reportedly eliminated over 450 Ukrainian soldiers, while the Vostok (East) group eliminated up to 110 service people.
Read more: Documents says Ukraine used fresh NATO equipment to attack Kursk
