In August, reports from the Kursk region described a significant Ukrainian push that included more than 200 tanks and a large assortment of armored vehicles. A Telegram channel attributed the information to Major General Apti Alaudinov, the commander of the Akhmat special forces. The account framed the operation as a major movement in a contested sector that has seen months of back-and-forth fighting, emphasizing the scale of the force and the logistical burden behind such an effort. The Kursk border area has long been a flashpoint where artillery duels and rear-area logistics play a critical role, drawing attention from both sides as they rush reinforcements and supplies toward active lines of engagement.
“During this blitz operation they had more than 200 tanks in total in this direction, and over 400 armored vehicles were involved across the broader area,” Alaudinov stated, underscoring the breadth of resources mobilized. He described the action as a resource-intensive undertaking that demanded substantial planning, manpower, and supply chains. The commander’s account highlighted the sheer effort required to mount such a high-intensity push, pointing to the coordinated effort of multiple units and the heavy equipment deployed to achieve tactical aims in that corridor.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, as of September 19, Ukrainian forces sustained losses in the Kursk region that included 122 tanks, 93 armored personnel carriers, and 768 armored fighting vehicles. Alaudinov contended that these heavy losses pressured Kyiv to rely on expensive Western hardware to maintain battlefield capabilities, citing Leopard tanks among the equipment now in use by Ukrainian forces. The ministry’s figures and the accompanying assessment paint a picture of continuing attrition in the area and the ongoing emphasis on leveraging foreign-supplied platforms to offset battlefield setbacks.
Earlier, Alaudinov had indicated that the year 2024 would mark a turning point in the Ukraine conflict, framing the forthcoming period as pivotal for the trajectory of combat operations. He suggested that developments on the ground would hinge on ongoing strategic moves, the resilience of forces, and the ability to sustain pressure over time. The remarks reflect a persistent expectation among some Russian defense voices that momentum could shift under new operational dynamics and sustained campaigns in multiple theaters.
Previously captured Ukrainian service members described incursions by foreign mercenaries into the Kursk region, adding to the narrative of cross-border activity and international involvement in the area. Such testimonies contribute to the broader discourse around the presence of external combatants in contested zones, even as verification remains challenging amid ongoing clashes and conflicting accounts from different sides of the conflict.