The Ukrainian Armed Forces have pushed deep into the Belgorod region in a major development across the Russian border, seizing control of strategic territory and dealing heavy losses to Russian troops. This cross border operation, active for over a month, marks a significant shift in the dynamics of the ongoing war as Ukrainian forces strike into Russian soil.
Troops from Ukraine’s 225th assault regiment, supported by the 33rd assault regiment and the renowned 414th Ptahi Madyara brigade, carried out the bold manoeuvre near the Russian villages of Popovka and Demidovka. According to prominent military journalist Yuriy Butusov, the objective was to surprise the enemy, weaken Russian formations, and force redeployments from other offensives such as those in Guevo and Gornal. He confirmed that this mission was executed with success.
What began as a swift assault has now transitioned into a positional defence along fortified Russian lines. Ukrainian infantry units, supported by artillery, drones, aviation and precision missile strikes, have entrenched themselves in the forested zones that are lined with “dragon’s teeth” style barriers.
Russia, in an attempt to push back, has rushed in reinforcements from elite and regular forces alike. These include the 34th and 128th motorized rifle brigades, the 83rd motorized rifle regiment, the Akhmat special forces, FSB units, and the notorious Espanola group. Despite their numbers and notoriety, these units have so far failed to break Ukrainian lines.
The toll has been brutal for Russian troops. Reports suggest the 128th brigade and 155th Marine battalion have both been forced to retreat for rearming and recovery. The 414th Ptahi Madyara brigade alone is credited with destroying over 100 enemy armoured vehicles, underlining the scale of Russian material losses. Butusov notes that the current casualty ratio is heavily skewed in Ukraine’s favour.
In a clear demonstration of Russia’s military strain, even elite Kremlin backed formations like Akhmat and Espanola have not succeeded in their assigned tasks. These failures expose the growing vulnerability of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s forces as Ukrainian troops sustain operational momentum well inside enemy territory.
Butusov also called for state recognition of the soldiers involved, insisting that the mission, having met its main strategic goals, should now be concluded efficiently to preserve strength for future engagements.
