Ukrainian strike decimates Russian column in Kursk region massacre
The Russian military command has panicked over Ukraine's activities in the Kursk region, believes "The Economist" journalist Oliver Carroll. Near Rylsk, a Russian column was destroyed, having announced its arrival online. Up to half a thousand Russians may have died in the attack.
Footage showing the destroyed Russian column was taken 5 miles from the city of Rylsk in the Kursk region. On a short section of the road in the village of Oktiabrskoje, there are 14 such vehicles. Mostly, there are bodies of soldiers – some of them burnt.
Bloody massacre near Kursk
The editorial staff of Suspilne (a public broadcaster in Ukraine) and analysts from VoxCheck confirmed that the footage comes from this location. These were probably reserves sent by the Russian authorities to border villages. Currently, it is not exactly known what hit the convoy with the equipment.
Photos and videos showing the destroyed convoy of Russian vehicles began to spread on social networks on the morning of 9 August. They show the burnt skeletons of military equipment, as well as damaged lorries with tarpaulins, on which dead soldiers lie. In total, there are 14 units of military equipment on the side of the village road.
"The Economist" journalist Oliver Carroll, citing a source in Ukrainian intelligence, reported that the Russian military command "panicked" because of the actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region.
"The footage, which I will not republish, shows the effects of the strike on the convoy near Rylsk. Many lorries. Dozens of corpses, still smouldering" – he wrote.
According to Radio Svoboda, the military column defeated near Rylsk was part of the Border Guard Unit of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation (the Northern Group was formed at its base in the spring of 2024).
"This is evidenced by the comparison of tactical signs in the film showing the effects of the attack on the convoy with photos from open sources. It was the Border Guard Unit, according to a TASS report from 7 August, 'that prevented the Ukrainian Armed Forces from entering deeper into Russia.' Meanwhile, the Northern Group of soldiers was used by the Russian command to attack Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region in May 2024" – we read.
There is a high probability that the massacred unit is the famous "Piatnaszka" brigade, which was brought from Donbas to the Kursk region. The brigade announced its arrival by posting a video of the column on social media.
"The Commander-in-Chief called for support in the Kursk region. You do not have to call us for long. We have come to help," – we read in a post on the VKontakte network.
The soldiers also pinned a post indicating their location.
"It turns out that the Ukrainians were also reading these channels and were prepared for the arrival of enemy reinforcements" – writes the Brief channel.
The legendary "Piatnaszka" is one of the most experienced brigades in Donbas, founded in 2014.
According to analysts, the Russians could have lost between 200 and 490 soldiers in this attack.
Meanwhile, General Pekka Toveri, former head of Finland's military intelligence, said these losses could range from 600 to 800 soldiers.
According to military analyst Yan Matveev, quoted by Agenstvo.Nowosti, the entire battalion was destroyed. "It is one of the bloodiest and most massive shellings (most likely by HIMARS) of the whole war" – he writes.
Fighting in the Kursk region has been ongoing since Tuesday morning. According to Forbes, three elite Ukrainian brigades—the 22nd, 88th, and 80th—are involved in the attack. It is estimated that approximately 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers are gathered near the border with the Kursk region, and Moscow will need five times more troops to repel them.
