A Chechen commander has claimed that Russian forces have launched a counteroffensive in Kursk Oblast, reportedly retaking several settlements, according to unverified reports from September 11.
If true, this development could pose a challenge to Ukrainian forces, who have been holding parts of the region since their cross-border incursion began on August 6.
As reported by the Kyiv Independent, the claims were made by Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Chechen "Akhmat" unit, on his Telegram channel.
Alaudinov asserted that Russian troops, including the 155th Marine Brigade, successfully reclaimed some areas, including the Snagost settlement, which lies close to Ukrainian-held territories in western Kursk Oblast.
Snagost is located around 30 kilometers (20 miles) west of the Russian town of Sudzha and roughly 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of the Ukrainian border.
It is currently controlled by Ukraine and is considered a strategically important location.
According to Alaudinov, Russian forces have broken into the settlement and are advancing with the aid of elite units, including the 51st Parachute Regiment.
Pro-war Russian Telegram channels also echoed these claims.
The "Two Majors" channel reported that multiple Russian military units were involved in the counteroffensive, while the "Rybar" channel suggested Russian forces were advancing into the Korenevsky district.
The Ukrainian crowd-sourced monitoring group, DeepState, reported a worsening situation for Ukrainian forces on the western flank in Kursk Oblast, stating that Russian troops had begun ferrying armored vehicles across the Seim River, potentially aiming to sever Ukrainian supply lines.
DeepState noted Russian advances toward Snagost but did not confirm its capture.
As of now, Ukrainian officials have not commented on these claims, which remain unverified by independent sources. If confirmed, this could indicate a shift in the dynamics of the battle for control in Kursk Oblast.
Earlier, on September 6, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine controls over 1,300 square kilometers and nearly 100 settlements in the region. Ukraine's objective in Kursk Oblast has been to divert Russian forces away from Donbas and to prevent further cross-border attacks originating from the region.
