The Ukrainian offensive in Kursk is putting pressure on the Russian troops stationed there. Units south of the Sejm River are threatened with encirclement after several bridges were blown up.
Russia is trying to build makeshift bridges, but is being prevented from doing so by Ukrainian drones that are destroying Russian military vehicles. President Putin visited a special forces training center in Chechnya, where Russian soldiers are now being trained for the war.
President Zelenskyy praises the progress and emphasizes the priority of capturing Russian soldiers. The Ukrainian offensive in Kursk aims to isolate the western part of the region by destroying bridges over the Sejm River, which the Russian army relies on.
Russia has reported downing at least ten Ukrainian drones heading towards Moscow. The Pentagon attests to Russia's difficulties in responding to the Kursk offensive.
The Russian secret service suspects Western involvement in the Ukrainian offensive. Russia is considering building a second bridge to the Crimea as a precaution against further bridge destruction by Ukraine.
The offensive in Kursk is testing Putin's response time and could strain the patience of his backers. Moscow has recently been targeted by a significant drone attack from Ukraine, but all drones were destroyed by Russian air defenses.
