A possible encirclement of Russian forces is developing in Kursk.
From: Forbes by David Axe Forbes Staff —David Axe writes about ships, planes, tanks, drones and missiles.
95TH AIR ASSAULT BRIGADE PHOTO
It shocked many observers—apparently including many Russians—when, on Thursday, Ukrainian sappers riding in an ex-Soviet IMR-2 engineering vehicle breached Russian defenses along the Russia-Ukraine border just south of the Russian village of Novyi Put.
The village is 20 miles west of the main Ukrainian salient in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. Six weeks ago, a powerful Ukrainian force—around a dozen battalions from eight or so experienced brigades—invaded Kursk and quickly gained control of 400 square miles of Russian soil.
If it was unclear last week why the Ukrainians would also invade around Novyi Put, it’s a bit clearer now. Backed by tanks and covered by Ukrainian air force warplanes lobbing building-demolishing glide bombs, a Ukrainian tactical group apparently anchored by the 95th Air Assault Brigade is slicing right as it advances past Novyi Put and through the southern blocks of the nearest Russian town, Vesoloe.
That is to say, the Ukrainian troops are turning toward the main Kursk salient. If the Ukrainians attacking northeast from Novyi Put can connect with the Ukrainians in the main salient, they’ll cut off potentially thousands of Russians between them and the border.
But it’s possible the Ukrainians don’t have enough well-equipped forces to complete the maneuver….
Voice of Ukraine 