The Ukrainian Armed Forces did not gain a foothold in the Belgorod region – ISW

The Ukrainian military failed to gain a foothold in the Belgorod region after attempting to repeat their Kursk victory there. They were forced to leave by the Russians’ willingness to repel cross-border attacks. This is stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

It was noted that according to available reports from open sources and evidence, as of August 16, Ukrainian troops are no longer holding positions in the Belgorod region.

Analysts, in particular, refer to the publication of The Washington Post on August 15. It noted that on August 11, the Ukrainian military carried out mechanized attacks in the Belgorod region near the Kolotilovka border checkpoint in international border northwest of the city of Belgorod and advanced about 10 kilometers in the area.

At the same time, according to Russian sources, in recent days the Ukrainian Armed Forces have repeatedly carried out attacks near Kolotilovka and on August 15 temporarily captured the aforementioned checkpoint. However, the Russians do not confirm that Ukrainian troops have advanced more than 10 kilometers from the checkpoint.

According to The Washington Post, Ukrainian troops held their positions in the Belgorod region while under heavy Russian airstrikes and artillery. On August 15, Ukrainian armored vehicles crossed the border to evacuate the remains of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel from the area.

As of August 16, ISW has not observed any Russian statements or evidence indicating the presence of Ukrainian troops in the Belgorod region.

“Ukrainian soldiers told the Washington Post that Russian troops are better prepared to repel Ukrainian cross-border attacks than in the Kursk region. According to them, Russian troops have installed a a large number of anti-tank fortifications – the so-called “dragon’s teeth” – along the border and the territory is heavily mined,” – said a report from the Institute for the Study of War.

In addition, ISW notes, according to Ukrainian soldiers, Russian artillery units, drone operators and aircraft almost immediately began to attack the Ukrainian Armed Forces, trying to cross the border in the Belgorod region in August 11.

“Ukrainian soldiers’ descriptions of Russia’s response indicate that the operational surprise achieved by Ukrainian forces on August 6 when they launched the offensive in the Kursk region had largely disappeared by August 11 and that the army of Russia in the Belgorod region prepared to repel the cross-border attacks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” – wrote ISW.

The report also states that since the offensive began on August 6, Ukrainian troops have made more rapid advances in other sections of the Kursk border. This suggests that Russian troops are likely to be better at protecting some parts of the border than others.

We remind you that on August 12, the population began to evacuate from the border region of the Belgorod region due to the offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Earlier it was reported that, probably, at the Kolotilovka checkpoint in the Belgorod region, the Russians shot a video with the severed head of a Ukrainian soldier.