Russia's response to the Ukrainian incursion into the #Kursk border region
is creating "disorganization" in its ranks and presenting "vulnerabilities" to Kyiv's troops, according to new analysis.
Moscow is leaning on Russian military #conscripts already in Kursk,
as well as fighters pulled from less-intense areas of the front line and units from its northern group of forces to defend Kursk,
"likely exacerbating the disorganization" of Russia's response to the Ukrainian push,
the U.S.-based think tank, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said on Saturday.
Russia's northern group of forces have been deployed close to the border, including around Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region into which Moscow launched an offensive earlier this year.
Kyiv began a surprise cross-border push from its northeastern Sumy region into Kursk early local time on Tuesday.
Raids from Ukraine into Russia have been previously claimed by Kyiv-aligned Russian groups,
but this is the first time regular troops have mounted such an operation.
Russia quickly transferred reinforcements to the border, including from other locations inside Ukraine.
The Kursk region's acting governor, Alexei Smirnov, declared a state of emergency on Wednesday,
and by Saturday, more than 76,000 people had been evacuated, according to the Russian government
https://www.newsweek.com/russia-kursk-ukraine-vulnerabilities-disorganization-fsb-conscripts-1937516
