Ukrainian forces decimate Russian convoy near Kursk, causing panic

The Russian military command has panicked due to Ukraine's actions in the Kursk region, according to journalist Oliver Carroll of "The Economist" magazine. Near Rylsk, a Russian column that had announced its arrival on the internet was destroyed. Up to 500 Russians might have died in the attack.

A recording showing the destroyed Russian column was made 5 miles from the Russian city of Rylsk in the Kursk region. On a short stretch of road in the village of Oktiabrskoje, there are a total of 14 such vehicles. Most of them contain the bodies of soldiers—some of them burned.

The editorial team of Suspilne (Ukraine’s public broadcaster) and analysts from VoxCheck confirmed that the material comes from that location. It was probably reserves that the Russian authorities directed to the border villages. As of now, it is not exactly known what hit the convoy with the equipment.

Photos and videos showing the destroyed convoy of Russian vehicles started spreading on social media on the morning of August 9. The images show the skeletons of burned military equipment, as well as damaged trucks with tarpaulins, on which dead soldiers lie. In total, there are 14 units of military equipment on the side of the rural road.

Journalist Oliver Carroll of "The Economist," citing a source in Ukrainian intelligence, reported that the Russian military command "panicked" in response to the actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region.

"The video footage, which I will not republish, shows the aftermath of a strike on a convoy near Rylsk. Many trucks. Dozens of bodies, still smoldering," he wrote.

According to Radio Svoboda, the military column defeated near Rylsk was part of the Border Guard Units Group of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (the North Group was created at its base in the spring of 2024).

"This is evidenced by the comparison of tactical signs in the video showing the effects of the attack on the convoy with photos from open sources. It was the Border Guard Units Group that, according to a TASS report from August 7, 'prevented the Ukrainian Armed Forces from penetrating deep into Russia.' The North Group, in turn, was used by the Russian command to attack Volchansk in the Kharkiv region in May 2024," reads the report.

There is a high probability that the massacred unit is the famous "Piatnashka" brigade, which was brought from Donbas to the Kursk region. This very brigade announced its arrival by posting a recording of the column on social media.

"The Supreme Commander called for support for the Kursk region. You don't need to call us for long. We came to help," reads a post on the VKontakte network.

The soldiers also placed a pin indicating their location.

"It turns out that the Ukrainians also read these channels and were ready for the arrival of enemy reinforcements," writes the Brief channel.

The legendary "Piatnashka" is one of the most experienced brigades in Donbas, established in 2014.

According to analysts, the Russians could have lost between 200 to 490 soldiers in this attack.

On the other hand, in the opinion of General Pekka Toveri, former head of Finland's military intelligence, these losses may amount to between 600 to 800 soldiers.

According to military analyst Yan Matveev, quoted by Agenstvo.Nowosti, an entire battalion was destroyed. "This is one of the bloodiest and most massive barrages (most likely HIMARS) of the entire war," he writes.

Fighting in the Kursk region has been ongoing since Tuesday morning. According to Forbes, three elite Ukrainian brigades—the 22nd, 88th, and 80th—are participating in the attack. It is estimated that about 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers are gathered near the border with the Kursk region, and Moscow will need five times as many troops to repel them.