Satellite image reveals damage to Kursk border crossing amid ongoing fighting. According to Radio Free Europe, a satellite image taken on August 6 shows significant damage to the Sudzha automobile border crossing in Russia’s Kursk region, near the Ukrainian border. This image confirms earlier reports from Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels about the destruction at the checkpoint. It’s still unclear if the damage was caused by Ukrainian strikes or Russian counterattacks. Meanwhile, the Sudzha gas metering station, crucial for Russian gas transit through Ukraine, appears to be intact. This station is an important entry point for Russian gas passing through Ukraine under a contract that expires on December 31, 2024. Both Ukraine and Russia have indicated they don’t plan to renew this agreement. On the evening of August 6, the Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed that fighting is still happening in the Kursk region, with military reserves now deployed there. They reported that around 8 AM local time, up to 300 Ukrainian soldiers, backed by 11 tanks and over 20 armoured vehicles, launched an attack on Russian border guard positions near Nikaleyevo-Daryino and Oleshnya, close to the Russian-Ukrainian border. The Ministry claims the 22nd Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was involved in this attack, but the brigade’s press office declined to comment when contacted. Additionally, a source from Ukrainian media outlet New Voice, citing Ukrainian intelligence (GUR), confirmed that the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) was not involved in the “breakthrough” in the Kursk region.
Ukrainian project reports a large number of Russian soldiers captured in the Kursk region. Ukrainian state project “I Want to Find” (“Hochu Nayti”) reported on their Telegram page what they said was a “large number” of Russian Armed Forces soldiers that have been captured in the Kursk region. “I Want to Find” is a Ukrainian state project that provides updates on prisoners of war, missing soldiers, and deceased Russian troops; it was et up in September 2022. They shared that a significant number of Russian soldiers—conscripts, contract troops, and mobilized forces—have been taken prisoner, with additional reports of casualties whose bodies were left behind during the retreat. The project also released a drone photo showing 32 Russian prisoners of war who surrendered on Wednesday, August 7, in the Kursk region, though another 8 prisoners were not captured in the frame.
Ukrainian F-16s upgraded with advanced missile warning system. Ukrainian website Militarnyi reports that F-16 fighter jets have received a major upgrade with the addition of Terma PIDS+ pylons, which include an advanced early missile warning system. This Danish-developed technology, featured in videos on the President of Ukraine’s official Telegram channel, significantly boosts the F-16s’ self-defence capabilities. The Terma PIDS+ system is equipped with Hensoldt AAR-60(V)2 missile warning sensors, offering nearly complete spherical coverage around the aircraft. These sensors alert the pilot to incoming threats and automatically trigger countermeasures to protect the jet. This enhancement represents a major advancement in Ukraine’s aerial defence, improving its ability to detect and counter missile attacks.
Evacuation in Ukraine’s border Sumy region. A mandatory evacuation has been ordered for 23 settlements in five border communities in the Sumy region near the Russian border. Volodymyr Artyukh, head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration, shared the news during a state telethon broadcast. The evacuation affects about 6,000 people, including 425 children, from the Krasnopil, Mykolaiv, Myropil, Yunakiv, and Khotin communities. The reason? An increased threat from Russian attacks, with the area experiencing air raids and numerous explosions due to Ukraine’s air defence systems in action. Artyukh emphasized how crucial it is to follow air raid warnings and seek shelter when alarms go off.
