Russia’s “60 Minutes” propaganda talk show falsely claims majority of Ukrainian forces that entered the Kursk Region have been destroyed

RU

During the “60 Minutes” program on Russia’s state-controlled Rossiya 1 TV channel, Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Сhechen Akhmat special forces unit, provided an “update” on the evolving military situation in the Kursk Region:

“The situation has largely been brought under control. Most of the areas where the enemy was located have been effectively sealed off. We are now clearing the settlements where the enemy remains, pushing them out of their positions. I can say that all units of the Russian Ministry of Defense are fully engaged in this operation, systematically destroying the enemy, who is now suffering losses on a scale that it has probably never suffered during the entire period of the [“special military operation”]. [...]

Although the initial entry point of the enemy has not yet been fully blocked, and [Ukrainian] reinforcements continue to arrive. I can tell you that 25 pieces of equipment passed into Russian territory the previous night. Given the intensity with which our units are [attacking] this equipment, this is really enough work for us for just one day, even for just one of our sections. [...]

The work is intense, the enemy is attempting to shift its forces from other parts of the front to bolster their efforts here, but I can happily assure everyone that Zelensky’s blitzkrieg has effectively come to an end. The enemy is unlikely to advance beyond the territory where they initially gained ground, as all routes for their equipment and manpower are now under our control. Some sabotage and reconnaissance groups may still be seeping through, but there are other [Russian] units for handling them effectively. [...]

Most of the enemy forces that initially entered Russian territory have more or less already been destroyed. Yes, they are continuing to try and reinforce these areas [with their troops], but we are steadily narrowing the occupied radius. I believe that this matter has been resolved — not only because these forces have been destroyed, but as I said earlier, this will also lead to the ultimate collapse of Ukraine, allowing us to enter [Ukraine] and take the territories we consider to be ours.”

Alaudinov made the statement on the morning of August 13. The day before, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), reported that Ukrainian troops had approximately 1,000 square kilometers of Russia’s Kursk Region under their effective control.

On the same day, during an operational meeting in Novo-Ogaryovo, Alexei Smirnov, acting governor of the Kursk Region, reported to Vladimir Putin that the Ukrainians had penetrated 12 kilometers deep into the Kursk Region, with “the width along the front totaling 40 kilometers,” indicating that around 480 square kilometers were under AFU control. Putin then cut off the governor, saying Smirnov’s mandate was limited to describing the “socio-economic situation” and “assistance [being offered] to the people” — not troop movements.

The actual size of the territory controlled by Ukraine likely falls between the estimates on offer from Kyiv and Moscow. The independent open-source intelligence (OSINT) project DeepState reported that the AFU controlled around 800 square kilometers in the Kursk Region, with the situation in another 230 square kilometers remaining unclear.

The project's daily updated combat map showed more modest progress by the AFU, but DeepState has noted that its maps are published with a deliberate delay of several days. According to the project’s data, Ukrainian-controlled territory was expanding until the evening of August 12.

Russian media did not mention any settlements retaken from the AFU, and it wasn't until after Alaudinov's statement on “60 Minutes” that Russian “military correspondent” Yury Kotenok reported that the village of Malaya Loknya and Nikolskoye had been recaptured by Russian forces — though other sources did not confirm this. By the evening of August 13, reports emerged of an unsuccessful attempt by the AFU to establish a foothold in the village of Gir'i, indicating that Ukrainian forces had advanced 20 kilometers southeast of Sudzha. On the same day, the evacuation of civilians from another district in the Kursk Region was announced, casting further doubt on Alaudinov's claim of “narrowing the radius occupied by the AFU.”

Between August 5-7, when the AFU began the incursion, Alaudinov's Akhmat forces were notably absent from their positions near the border, allowing the Ukrainians to pass into Russia’s territory unchallenged. Alaudinov later explained this by saying his units had “narrowly missed” the AFU units — meaning the Chechens were not able to engage them in combat.

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