According to a report by Forbes, a powerful Russian force, believed to be from the 15th “Pyatnashka” Brigade, launched an offensive on or just before 29 September, targeting the Ukrainian-held village of Plekhovo in Russia‘s Kursk Oblast. However, they found themselves trapped in their own defensive structures.
This offensive was in response to Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk Oblast in early August, where they captured over 1,000 square kilometers in an effort to protect their border communities from Russian shelling and draw Russian troops away from other fronts. In recent weeks, both Ukrainian and Russian forces have continued to attack each other in the area, but there have been no confirmed advances as of yesterday, according to ISW.
According to Ukrainian war correspondent Yurii Butusov, the Russian column became stuck in anti-tank traps and a line of concrete obstacles that had been constructed by Russian forces prior to the Ukrainian invasion. The attacking forces were struggling to navigate these obstacles when the Ukrainian 129th Territorial Defense Brigade took advantage of the situation and launched a wave of explosive drones, causing significant damage to the Russian armored vehicles.
These defensive structures, which hindered the Russian assault, could have posed a significant challenge to the initial Ukrainian invasion. However, the Russian forces in Kursk were caught off guard by the surprise attack on 6 August and were unable to effectively use their substantial firepower, including nearly 200 artillery pieces, before being overwhelmed by the fast-moving Ukrainian mechanized troops.
After the Ukrainian takeover, the anti-tank traps and circular infantry trenches became valuable assets for the new occupants. Unlike their predecessors, the 129th Territorial Defense Brigade was fully prepared for a counterattack and was able to use the well-constructed defenses to their advantage.
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