The US recommends that Ukraine use the long-range weapons it provided not in Kursk, but in Crimea. The reason is not the risk of escalation, but the banal limited number of long-range ATACMS missiles.
About this tells CNN, citing American officials, notes that, US officials believe the missiles provided would be better used to further strike Russian-occupied Crimea.
At this stage, the United States considers Ukraine's unexpected invasion of the Kursk region of the Russian Federation a defensive move that allows Kyiv to use American equipment. However, they expressed concern about potential complications as the Ukrainian Armed Forces advance deeper into Russian territory.
US President Joe Biden, in his first comments on Ukraine's offensive in the Kursk region, called the operation a “real dilemma” for the Kremlin leader. And the head of diplomacy EU Josep Borrell, after a conversation with Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba about Ukraine's offensive in the Kursk region, stated that The European Union fully supports the struggle of the Ukrainian people.
Meanwhile, as of the evening of August 16, Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region have new advances in some directions from 1 to 3 kilometers. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky reported this to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky:
“The troops continue to fight. They have advanced in some directions from 1 to 3 kilometers towards the enemy. Fighting continues along the entire front line. Overall, the situation is under control.”
When asked about the exchange fund, Syrsky replied:
“There are currently battles going on in the Malaya Loknya area. I hope that many prisoners will be taken there.”
What else from the latest news in Kursk region. It is reported that Major General Moskalov has already begun to perform the duties of the head of the commandant's office in Kursk region.
The head of Kursk region, Alexey Smirnov, confirmed the information that the automobile bridge across the Seim River in Glushkovsky district was destroyed as a result of the Ukrainian Armed Forces strike:
Meanwhile, Russian telegram channels write that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are striking another bridge across the Seim – in the village of Zvane. As a result of the destruction of the bridge, part of the Glushkovsky district is now cut off – this is Tetkino, Popovo-Lezhachi, Wolfino and about 27 more villages. The civilian population can now only be evacuated by water.
However, the destruction of the bridge itself does not mean that the Russian group is blocked, although it does complicate its logistics – there are other bridges across the Sejm. However, as reported by Russian media, they are also being attacked. And even if all these bridges are destroyed, the Russian army can build pontoon crossings across the river (if it has not already done so). Most likely, Ukrainian troops will also hit them, but it is possible to build a new pontoon much faster than to repair the bridge.
But overall, the situation in the Glushkovsky district south of the Seim River is certainly difficult for the Russian army, including due to logistical problems. And therefore, it is possible that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will now concentrate their efforts in this direction.
What's happening in Sudzha now:
This is regarding yesterday's destruction of a Russian column with manpower and equipment:
And so it all began, this time on Russian territory. The Ukrainian Armed Forces published footage from the first hours of the invasion of the Kursk region:
Meanwhile, writes the publication “Strana”, in Russian military Telegram channels they became active discuss the version that the current offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region is a diversionary strike, and the main attack will be carried out by the Ukrainian army on the Southern Front towards Crimea (or on Energodar from the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant).
In particular, Igor Girkin-Strelkov, who is sitting in a Russian prison, speaks about this. He predicts an offensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Crimea and believes that the Kursk operation is a diversionary maneuver, and the main attack, using F-16s, is being prepared in the south. Similar forecasts are published by other Russian military bloggers.
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