Ukrainian forces continued to marginally advance in Kursk region on August 19 amid continued fighting throughout the Ukrainian salient in the area, the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports, citing geolocation footage and its own sources.

“Ukrainian forces advanced in Vishnevka (southwest of Koronevo and 14km from the international border) … Ukrainian forces also advanced within Russkoye Porechnoye (northeast of Sudzha and 17km from the international border), east of Agronom (just east of Sudzha and 15km from the international border), and east of Spalnoye (southeast of Sudzha and 5km from the international border),” the review reads.

It is reported that fighting continues near Korenevo, Olgovka (just east of Korenevo), western Sudzha, and Martynovka (just northeast of Sudzha). Clashes continued along the international border near Tetkino.

ISW says it has not yet observed evidence of a strike against a bridge near Karyzh, of Glushkovo district of Kursk region that would cut off from Russian military supplies a significant part of the territory of Kursk region to the west from the partially controlled by AFU of Sudzha and Korenevo districts.

“Family members of Russian conscripts have recently complained about the involvement of Russian conscripts in Russian border-defense operations. The Kremlin has shown great concern about societal backlash regarding issues concerning conscripts, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously taken action to appease the complaints of conscripts' relatives. The continued presence of Russian conscripts in the border areas during the Ukrainian incursion threatens the Kremlin with a potential political crisis regarding casualties among Russian conscripts,” the analysts note.

It is also noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin's reaction to the "Kursk situation" has exposed certain shifts within the Kremlin's power vertical, many of which have been underway over the last several months. “Putin appointed Presidential Aide Alexei Dyumin to supervise the ongoing ‘counterterrorism’ operation against Ukrainian activities in Kursk region … which means that Putin distrusts the Russian General Staff and the Russian Ministry of Defense (which would be the bodies theoretically in charge of defensive military activities) and relies on individuals that he personally trusts … the Kremlin has increasingly oriented its main priorities towards regime stability,” the message reads.

According to ISW, Russian officials continued to try to hold Ukraine responsible for the lack of negotiations on ending the war.

At the same time, Russian occupation forces advanced on Monday in the area of Kupyansk, Svatove, Pokrovsk and Vuhledar in Kherson and Donetsk regions.