Additional Coverage:
- Videos of Russian soldiers appearing to surrender en masse suggest inexperience and desperation, experts say (newsbreak.com)
In recent images and recordings, Russian troops are seen surrendering on their own soil, lacking combat experience as they are overtaken by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region. These videos, analyzed by warfare experts, depict young, inexperienced soldiers who appear desperate, indicating their minimal willingness to fight.
An in-depth review conducted by The Washington Post encompassed over 130 photos and videos since Ukraine’s unexpected offensive began in Kursk on August 6. Critical delays in the Russian response and ignored intelligence on Ukrainian military preparations on the border allowed the incursion to gain ground.
Dara Massicot from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace shared with the publication her views on the inexperienced nature of the Russian troops captured on video. Notably, these videos seemed largely filmed and circulated by Ukrainian forces, according to the Post; however, Business Insider has not independently confirmed the footage.
The visuals assessed by the Post confirmed the capture of at least 247 Russian soldiers, a significant increase from the previously detained soldiers noted by Russian President Vladimir Putin before the offensive. The overall count of Russian troops captured by Ukraine, as per reports, runs into the hundreds.
Expert Mathieu Boulègue expressed surprise at the high number of surrenders, indicating the fragility of Russia’s war stance and the dire state of its troops. On August 16, images captured a destroyed Russian tank near Sudzha in Kursk, underscoring the ongoing conflict’s intensity.
According to Ukrainian officials, one day alone saw the capture of 102 Russian soldiers—the largest single-group capture since the full-scale invasion by Russia in February 2022. The young age and lack of training among Russian soldiers stationed at the border have been noted by multiple sources, including Western intelligence and defense analysts.
The Ukrainian operation has been notably effective, highlighted by the capture of over 483 square miles of Russian territory—surpassing the gains made by Russia in Ukraine since the year’s start. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the strategic objective is to establish a buffer zone to curtail Russia’s capabilities for aggression.
Analysts speculate that Ukraine’s tactic is likely aimed at diluting Russian military strength and bolstering the morale of its own troops and allies. This aggressive push into Kursk has caught Russian military and political leaders off guard, according to Estonian security expert Rainer Saks.