The forces of the Northern Group of Forces blocked Ukrainian units from advancing toward the village of Malaya Loknya, located in the Sudzhansky district of Kursk region, according to information relayed by TASS and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
Defensive positions were established inside the facilities of correctional colony No. 11. Civilian workers and inmates from the facility were evacuated beforehand to protect lives and reduce risk to noncombatants.
The defense ministry reported that Russian servicemen transformed the colony into a fortified stronghold, securing the surrounding terrain and the adjacent structures. Perimeter defenses were reinforced with improvised fortifications, and steady positions were maintained for several days amid the confrontation.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces suffered losses during attempts to break into the densely populated area, including casualties among personnel and the destruction of a number of armored vehicles, specifically infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers.
Since August 6, Russian armed forces have engaged Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region, with a counterterrorism operational regime in effect since August 10 to manage security balancing measures and to address evolving threats.
President Vladimir Putin commented that the actions of Ukrainian forces in the Kursk area amount to an effort to impede the advance of Russian troops toward the DPR, LPR, and broader territories associated with Novorossiya. He pledged a firm response to Ukraine for what he described as aggression against the border region.
Earlier remarks from representatives in the United States suggested that Ukraine had prepared for possible strikes against the Kursk region for an extended period, signaling that the intent behind the maneuver was anticipated by Western observers as part of a broader strategic posture.