Russia is rushing to reinforce its defenses more than a week after Ukraine launched a surprise cross-border attack on the southern Kursk region, catching Moscow off guard. The operation has forced the Kremlin to divert thousands of troops from occupied territories in Ukraine to counter the unexpected threat on home soil.
According to U.S. officials, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been compelled to deploy conscripts, backtracking on a previous promise not to use them on the front lines. Satellite imagery reveals a large trench dug near the town of Selektsionnyi, approximately 45 kilometers (28 miles) from the border. The Russian military is also reportedly hiring trench diggers, with online job postings offering weekly payments.
Experts say the Ukrainian operation, meticulously planned in secrecy, has stunned even Kyiv’s closest allies, including the United States, and shifted the dynamics of the war that has raged for more than two years. Ukraine’s ability to breach the Russian border highlights the country’s resilience and strategic acumen, despite facing months of setbacks in other areas of the conflict.
Natia Seskuria, an associate fellow at the UK’s Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies (RUSI), told CNN that Ukraine’s success in penetrating Russian territory demonstrates the country’s commitment to its defense, signaling that there is no “war fatigue” in Kyiv. The operation was characterized by superb operational security, with no leaks, allowing Ukrainian forces to build up their strength under the cover of dense summer foliage along rural roads in the Sumy region of northeastern Ukraine.
Experienced units, such as the 82nd Air Assault Brigade, were diverted from other regions to participate in the mission. Detailed intelligence on Russian border defenses, combined with knowledge of the local geography, enabled Ukrainian forces to launch their attack with minimal resistance.
The first Ukrainian units stormed into the Kursk region on August 6, exploiting weak points in Russian defenses. Social media videos, geolocated by CNN, show dozens of Russian soldiers surrendering at a heavily damaged border crossing near Sudzha, a key transit point for gas supplies from Russia to Europe.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Thursday that Ukrainian forces had taken control of Sudzha. Satellite images show a gas terminal at a nearby border point in ruins, indicating the extent of the Ukrainian advance.
Throughout the operation, Ukrainian forces used fast, resilient Western-made armored vehicles and small mobile groups of special forces to fan out across multiple locations. Their success was supported by air defenses, artillery, and electronic warfare measures that disrupted Russian military communications.
As Ukrainian soldiers posted videos from captured villages, Russian forces struggled to assess the strength of the assault. The surprise attack has left Russia scrambling to reinforce its positions and reassess its strategies in the ongoing conflict.