Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov to head the "counterterrorism operation" in the Kursk region amid ongoing Ukrainian advances, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). This move is seen as leveraging Bortnikov's reputation for effectively managing crises threatening Russia's internal stability and the Kremlin's grip on power.

Last year, Bortnikov's negotiation skills were on full display when he secured safety guarantees for Wagner …

Tanks from one of Belarus' mechanized brigades are being redeployed to the border with Ukraine, stated the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Defense on Sunday, August 11. “Units from one of the mechanized formations are being prepared to fulfill their designated tasks. Military personnel are loading the equipment onto railway transport and commencing a march to assigned areas using combined methods,” the Belarusian defense ministry said in a statement on Telegram.

The Belarusian …

Tatiana Moskalkova, Russia's Human Rights Commissioner, has issued an appeal to the UN High Commissioner over recent developments in the Kursk region, urging condemnation of what she calls "terrorism from Ukraine." 

"I have sent an appeal to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, demanding condemnation of terrorism from Ukraine and measures to prevent gross mass human rights violations. I hope that our information will also be reflected in the OHCHR UN report on human rights violations, …

Ukrainian forces entered the Belyovsky District of Russia's Kursk region overnight on Sunday, August 11, expanding their presence on Russian territory. This information was confirmed by the regional head, Nikolay Volobuev. "The infiltration of sabotage and reconnaissance groups into our territory created a lot of commotion and panic. The situation is now stable but remains highly tense," Volobuev said in a video message to local residents. He added that Russian military forces managed to " …

The news outlet Agenstvo reported that Russian commanders are refusing to pull back conscripts stationed in the Kursk region despite a recent Ukrainian breakthrough. The move signals preparation for a larger-scale employment of conscripts in the ongoing war against Ukraine. These conscripts are reportedly being declared combat units, according to human rights organizations.

"The platoon is receiving combat orders, and commanders are denying the conscripts' retreat to the rear," said a source …