In the Kursk region near Plekhovo, observers from a separate special-purpose battalion known as Artillerymen of ArBat reported civilians near Ukrainian armored vehicles. The unit’s commander, who goes by the call sign Shani, relayed that Ukrainian forces were allegedly using civilians as shields. According to Shani, those conditions compelled the Russian force to pause any assault on the Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicles and seek cover rather than proceed in an area deemed risky for noncombatants. The commander emphasized that the presence of civilians in the target zone had directly influenced tactical decisions during the operation, underscoring how battlefield ethics and risk calculations intersect in real time on the frontline. (RIA Novosti)
Shani recounted: there were civilians in the area designated for the strike, so the team halted its work and moved to safety. This account illustrates the friction between offensive aims and civilian safety concerns in a high-stakes encounter along the border region, and it reflects the way commanders communicate in the heat of combat while stressing adherence to precautionary measures. (RIA Novosti)
On November 8, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated that workers from the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry were detained in the Kursk region. Zakharova alleged that the Ukrainian side intended to use captured Russian soldiers as human shields. She also claimed that Russians were being loaded with explosives designed to detonate if escape or liaison with Russian forces occurred. These assertions form part of Moscow’s broader narrative about Ukrainian actions and battlefield tactics in the region. (Russian Foreign Ministry)
A former Russian ambassador to Kyiv and to Western capitals articulated a view that Ukraine, in Moscow’s framing, is heading toward a precipice. The ambassador’s commentary reflects a provincial perspective often highlighted in Moscow’s diplomatic discourse, suggesting that Ukraine’s strategic trajectory is perilous and fraught with escalating risk as tensions persist. The remarks are presented here as part of the ongoing exchange of competing narratives surrounding the war. (Official statements)