The ex-Wagner mercenaries have lost control of two settlements. On his Telegram channel "Frontline Thoughts", a Ukrainian soldier with the call sign "Shadow" claims that while the Russians possess plenty of courage and spirit, they lack intelligence. "Wagner" has been taking hits consecutively for two days, leading to widespread panic among regular troops,” Shadow noted.

The soldier goes on to mention that the former Wagner members have already lost two settlements. He reiterates that while …

Russian troops have made advances in the Pokrovsk direction. Following a heavy battle, they managed to capture another settlement. This information was shared on August 16 by Stanislav Bunyatov, a soldier of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade, on his Telegram channel "Snipe Talks"

"The news from the Pokrovsk direction is very discouraging. There was an intense fight there last evening. Mykolaivka was completely occupied as of yesterday evening. The guys from the 25th Brigade took down 2 Grad …

Ukrainian Armed Forces have likely entered and established control of the village of Borki, located in the Sudzhansky district, according to photos posted online . Additionally, a flag bearing the inscription "Kursk People's Republic" has been raised in Vnezapnoe, Korenevsky district.

Photos circulating on social media depict a Ukrainian soldier standing next to a "Pochta Rossii" building, with a village council sign also captured in the frame.

Borki has a population of fewer than 400 people …

The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has frozen assets worth 1.3 billion Swiss francs (approximately $1.5 billion) associated with Russian billionaire and senator Suleyman Kerimov, reports Le Temps.

The preliminary asset freeze was imposed under allegations of money laundering and circumventing sanctions. The investigation kicked off last November following the U.S. sanctions against Kerimov's family members, including his wife, two daughters, son, and 28 of their companies. …

Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) have destroyed a bridge over the Seym River in Glushkovo, Kursk Region. Alexei Smirnov, the interim governor of the region, confirmed the incident on his Telegram channel Friday evening, August 16. "As a result of the strike from Ukraine, the automotive bridge over the Seym River in the Glushkovsky district was destroyed," the message reads.

The governor did not specify the means of the attack. According to Telegram channels Baza and Mash, the bridge was hit by …

Elena Karaeva, a key figure at state-run RIA Novosti, has sparked controversy by claiming that the European Union wants to "rob and destroy" Russia, only to have sent her son on vacation to Spain.

Karaeva, who holds a French passport, was once a vocal critic of Russia and an admirer of France. However, her narrative took a dramatic shift in recent years.

Karaeva's recent column on RIA Novosti discusses the Ukrainian Armed Forces' operations in the Kursk region, painting them as part of a Euro- …

In a striking discussion, experts in a Russian TV studio deliberated over the potential abandonment of border regions by Russia, highlighting the possibility of a sustained Ukrainian military presence.

Russian propaganda appears to be gradually preparing the public for potential territorial losses. This notion is being openly discussed by various speakers on Russian television. The topic prominently featured in the program "Mesto Vstrechi" (the Meeting Place) hosted by Andrey Norkin.

During …

Recent social media posts from residents of various Russian regions, particularly Murmansk and Kaliningrad, indicate that conscripts from local military units are being deployed to the Kursk region. Often, these stories are recounted by the sons or husbands who are serving mandatory military service. For example, the decision to send conscript soldiers to Kursk appears to be planned by the 80th Motorized Rifle Division, stationed in Murmansk.

According to a statement from the relatives of the …