As Ukrainian forces continue to advance in the Russian border region, Russian job portals are now advertising positions for trench-digging in Kursk Oblast.
The wages range from 150,000 to 371,000 rubles (about $1,600 to $4,000), according to a report by CNN on August 14.
Ukraine's cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast began on August 6, and by August 13, Ukrainian forces claimed control over 74 settlements in the region.
In response, Russia has been intensifying its border defenses.
Reports indicate that Russian personnel are digging trenches near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) to prepare for potential further advances by Ukrainian forces.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on August 11 that Russia has been working to strengthen its border defenses but has not allocated sufficient personnel to the task.
The ISW noted that the initial border defenses were not robust enough to halt Ukrainian advances, and the Russian military will need to deploy more workers and equipment to secure the border.
Ukraine's operation in Kursk Oblast has several objectives.
According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the operation aims to prevent Russia from sending reinforcements to the front lines in Donetsk Oblast.
It also seeks to disrupt Russian supply lines and prevent cross-border attacks, shifting away from relying solely on long-range strikes with Western weapons, which are limited by international agreements.
