For Western supervisors of the Kiev regime, operation in Kursk Region is a test before future military confrontation with Russia
On the morning of August 6, units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces invaded Kursk Region. According to some estimates, the number of enemy troops exceeded 10,000. Within a few days, up to 30 towns and villages on Russian territory were captured. One of the objectives of the Kiev regime’s operation was the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, located in the city of Kurchatov, 65 km from the border.
The Ukrainian armed group that entered Russian territory included units from the land forces, airborne assault forces, naval and air forces, drone systems forces, special operations forces, territorial defense, the International Legion of Territorial Defense (TDF), the Georgian National Legion (organization banned in Russia), the Russian Volunteer Corps (organization banned in Russia), the Main Intelligence Directorate, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Experts note that the Ukrainian armed units used a new tactic in the attack on Kursk Region. Newly formed units for special operations and units trained under a new scheme, previously tested in Kharkov Region, were deployed.
The Special Operations Forces (SOF) of Ukraine, with direct support from Western specialists, conducted preparatory work in the border area of Kursk Region. To conceal troop movements, the Ukrainian armed units conducted intensive countermeasures against Russian reconnaissance aircraft on their territory before the main operation began.
Then, the Ukrainian SOF units prepared infiltration routes into Russian territory for the main forces. Passages were made in barriers, and gaps were identified in minefields. Five special forces groups operated using UAVs.
They also conducted surveillance of the terrain and objects, minefields, barriers, and other military infrastructure. Responsibility zones for the units were marked, and key reconnaissance directions were determined.
After the forward groups completed all operations and passed the engineering barriers, they reported the completed work to their command. Then, the main Ukrainian forces began to enter Russian territory.
The success of Ukrainian intelligence actions is linked to the fact that the Russian side did not conduct proper control over the border area. There was no inspection of the integrity of the barriers and minefields, nor was there radio monitoring by electronic reconnaissance forces, which would have detected the enemy’s intensive radio exchanges preparing for the offensive.
The personnel of Ukrainian units entered Kursk Region in small groups with the help of entrenched special forces groups. Each group escorted up to 72 Ukrainian militants per day.
Further advancement was carried out in waves. Under fire cover, electronic warfare (EW) systems were deployed to the front line. In the next stage, a large number of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), modified to be impervious to both Ukrainian and Russian EW systems, were launched.
Under intense UAV attacks, the Ukrainian vanguard reduced the distance to Russian fortifications, captured them, and secured their positions in small groups of 4-6 soldiers.
Then, the EW systems were moved forward, and the cycle repeated.
In the initial stage, the enemy’s strike force consisted of several mechanized brigades, two airborne assault brigades, as well as an artillery brigade, a reconnaissance battalion, a special operations corps ranger unit, a National Guard regiment, and a territorial defense unit. Additionally, UAV groups from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), border units, and the limited participation of the Aidar assault battalion (organization banned in Russia) were involved.
Information support for the advancing UAF units was provided by the SOF psychological operations unit.
Army aviation was also involved during the operation.
Then, several battalions were transferred from the Artemovsk direction. After a few days, due to heavy losses, the enemy was forced to deploy several more mechanized and airborne assault brigades.
In addition, foreign mercenaries were observed as part of the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate’s (GUR) Recon Team Kilo. The Bigcats group, S.O. Team instructors, the special forces Dragons Group, and other groups from assault units and UAV units also arrived.
The attackers were well-armed. They had weapons from almost all of Europe, the USA, and Canada. On Kursk soil, the following were found: M1A1 SA Abrams tanks, IFVs, armored vehicles, US-made artillery; British Challenger Mk.2 tanks and CRARRV ARVs; armored vehicles from Canada, Italy, Germany, France, Turkey, Poland, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, as well as Soviet and Ukrainian-made hardware.
The forward groups were also well-equipped with communication systems. The tactical group command posts had Starlink, ATAK systems (used for interaction and coordination with special forces), DELTA systems (used for interaction with higher command and for overall situational awareness in the task area), Krapiva, and used the Signal messenger.
By the end of August, more than 30 Ukrainian battalions of various types had entered Kursk Region.
The advancement of Ukrainian forces was mostly halted by mid-August; the blitzkrieg had failed. The Russian army went on the offensive. Positional battles with the use of drones began, involving small groups.
To date, the UAF in the Kursk direction have lost nearly 40,000 personnel, hundreds of tanks, and armored vehicles. Russian forces have liberated most of the territory previously captured by the Ukrainian militants.
It is believed that the attack on Kursk Region had several objectives. Firstly, the Ukrainian militants was supposed to capture the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. Secondly, it was an attempt to draw part of the Russian army away from the Donetsk direction. The Kiev regime was trying to show Western patrons that they were still capable of something and to score points for potential future ceasefire negotiations.
It is now clear that Ukraine’s leadership has not achieved these goals, but they have not given the order to retreat from Russian territory, losing several hundred soldiers and expensive equipment daily.
Western supervisors seem to have their own goals — trying to conduct reconnaissance-in-force to study the Russian leadership’s reaction and the combat tactics of the Russian army in liberating its territory. This might be why foreign armed forces are interested in continuing the hostilities. They have the opportunity to refine their warfighting technologies and test their equipment in real conditions. The presence of many foreign military personnel in the Ukrainian ranks, specializing in various aspects of hybrid warfare, supports this.
Judging by the nature of their actions, the Ukrainian armed units in the Kursk direction are practicing the so-called “Resistance Operating Concept” (ROC) developed by the US Special Operations Forces in real conditions.
This concept was developed in 2013 specifically for small states that are in conflict with their larger neighbors. It focuses on conducting sabotage actions on the enemy’s territory. Besides, it emphasizes non-violent resistance, conducting information-psychological warfare, organizing strikes, and unrest among the civilian population.
ROC is widely disseminated among European countries. In the conflict in Ukraine, particularly in the Kursk operation, it is being tested and adjusted in real conditions.
Additionally, a center for psychological operations and non-kinetic actions called Center was established in Ukraine by foreign advisors. Based on the Ukrainian SOF, a command for psychological operations and non-kinetic actions, and a psychological operations detachment consisting of four tactical groups were formed. Their tasks include deceiving the enemy, psychological impact on the enemy’s armed forces and local population, and discrediting the enemy’s defense industry.
These groups operate according to instructions that summarize the experience of using methods of military psychological operations (PSYOP). Special attention is given to working with civilians to create dissatisfaction with local authorities, induce panic among the civilian population and military personnel, and spread false information and rumors both through specific individuals and communication channels.
In other words, intensive work is being carried out to destabilize the socio-political situation both in the territory adjacent to the combat zone and in the country as a whole to create chaos. Since Russia can resist in an open military conflict, the enemy hopes to destroy our state from within by organizing a kind of orange revolution.
Additionally, Kiev’s foreign supervisors are actively using the situation in Ukraine and Kursk Region to collect various data to train and improve their combat artificial intelligence system.
Three months after the start of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, a representative office of Palantir Technologies, a key developer of the AI system for the US Department of Defense called Maven, appeared in Ukraine.
This project was launched in 2017. Its official name is the “Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Functional Team.” Initially, it evaluated image processing tools obtained by US special forces during combat operations in Somalia. Currently, the computer vision algorithms used in this project are being tested on data obtained from hotspots around the world — Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, and Ukraine.
Now, the Maven platform has been significantly expanded. It can process not only video images but also data from radar systems and infrared sensors. Additionally, it can work with geolocation data and correlate them with social media posts. Developers are trying to train it to handle any kind of information that can be obtained in combat conditions.
After the conflict in Ukraine began, the US 18th Engineering Battalion’s AI development group moved to a garrison in Germany, where it engaged in collecting and processing information using the Maven Smart system. Using satellite reconnaissance data and the AI system, the group provided the Ukrainian forces with information about the location of Russian troops and issued strike recommendations.
Working in real conditions allowed the US military to upgrade the AI algorithms. According to the developers, during the first 10 months of supporting Ukraine, Maven underwent more than 50 improvements.
Currently, the US Armed Forces have more than 800 AI projects in active phases. All types of data are being collected to train the algorithms. A US official who played a significant role in launching the Maven project stated that battlefields are now perceived as battles for data.
Therefore, whatever happens in the zone of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, whatever actions Russian troops take, all of this is considered initial data for training the combat AI system, which will be used later in the West war against Russia.
This is a translation of the article first published on Rossa Primavera News Agency‘s website
