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On August 6, around 7 a.m. Kyiv time, Russian media and Telegram channels began reporting about an "unsuccessful" attempt by about 100 Ukrainian soldiers to breach the Russian border in the Kursk region.
"The enemy continues to amass significant forces at the front line, saturating the combat area with air defense and electronic warfare systems. The AFU seem serious about advancing and are making continuous efforts to hold part of our territory. The situation is complicated," wrote a Russian “military correspondent" [this is what propagandists are called in Russia — DM] at 7:25 a.m. with a following of almost 719,000 Telegram users.
Local officials from the Kursk region then took the stage. At 10:26 a.m., the acting governor of the Kursk region, Alexey Smirnov, reported:
"FSB Border Service and Russian Armed Forces soldiers prevented the border breach."
His message was spread by both pro-government and opposition Russian media and Telegram channels.
During the day, Russian media published reviews on "how the breach attempt began and ended" in the Kursk region.
"Overall, it turned out to be amusing, and now you know the worth of such ‘reposts’ from the Saloreich [Ukrainian] dumps," former Ukrainian lawyer and now Russian propagandist Tetiana Montian instructed on media literacy at 3:44 p.m. Kyiv time.
She claimed that "fake information about a large-scale operation in Kursk" was allegedly disseminated through Ukrainian Telegram channels to provoke panic. In reality, she wrote, the operation was "unsuccessful," advising never to trust information from Ukrainian Telegram channels. The next day, without deleting her previous post, Montyan wrote about a "large-scale Ukrainian operation in the Kursk region" as a fact and advised not to trust the Russian Ministry of Defense's reports that the Russian army had "repelled the attackers into Ukrainian territory."
Despite the "announcement of the breach being closed" on the afternoon of August 6, publications about the situation in the border area of Kursk from Russian propagandists and officials did not stop.
For instance, at 6:59 p.m., the deputy head of the Main Directorate for Military-Political Work of the Russian Ministry of Defense and former commander of the Chechen special forces unit Akhmat, Apti Alaudinov, posted a video on Telegram stating that the AFU used their last reserves at the Kursk region border.
"In principle, this is probably already a situation for us when, due to the destruction of these resources, we will reach the final stage of completing the SMO," Alaudinov said. However, several Russian "military correspondents" accused the Akhmat leadership that after the start of the "unsuccessful breach," the fighters of this battalion "disappeared in an unknown direction" despite being stationed in the Kursk region for the past week.
A bit later, at 7:21 p.m., the Russian Ministry of Defense Telegram channel reported that "having suffered losses, the Ukrainian SRG [sabotage and reconnaissance group] retreated to its territory."
"Some militants attempted to entrench directly on the territory adjacent to the state border, where they were blocked by units of the Russian army," the message stated. Later, it was edited to simply confirm, "Today, the enemy made another attempt to breach the territory of the Kursk region of the Russian Federation. Artillery fire, army aviation strikes, and the use of attack UAVs inflicted fire damage on the enemy."
Closer to 11 p.m., videos with captions like "Explosions occurred near Kurchatov in the Kursk region [where the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant is located— DM]" were spread on Telegram. Such videos were also published in a pro-Russian Ukrainian Telegram channel with 1.3 million subscribers.
On the morning of August 7, a Russian "military correspondent" with 118,000 Telegram followers wrote that "AFU units" occupied the villages of Nikolayevo-Darino, Darino, and Sverdlovskoye. Moreover, according to the propagandist, Ukrainian and Russian troops were fighting in Goncharovka and Oleshna. Later, reports emerged about battles in the city of Sudzha.
"In total, up to 400 AFU soldiers invaded the Kursk region, with up to 2,000 more concentrated along the border," the propagandist wrote, adding that the "AFU operation" might last at least a few more days.
On the second day of fighting, propagandists and the Russian Ministry of Defense got confused about the numbers of how many people invaded and how many they allegedly destroyed. On August 7, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the Russian army destroyed 315 soldiers. The day before, they reported that about 300 Ukrainian soldiers were present in the Kursk region. Finally, during Putin's meeting with the heads of the Russian army on the evening of August 7, the Chief of the General Staff of Russia, Valery Gerasimov, reported that about 1,000 people had invaded Kursk.
On the evening of August 7, an emergency state was declared in the Kursk region — 36 hours after reports of fighting started. Propagandists reported that the declaration was to "eliminate the consequences of the AFU activity". The fighting was still ongoing at that moment.
Ukrainian Military's Silence on the Fighting in the Kursk Region
In their official statements, neither the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine nor Commander-in-Chief Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the situation in the Kursk region on August 6 and 7.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, commented on the events there. He called them evidence that the Russians do not control their border.
In a pro-Ukrainian Telegram channel with 432,000 subscribers, the absence of information in the General Staff reports about destroyed Russian military equipment in the Kursk region was presented as proof that "we have nothing to do with the events in the border area." Those engaging in combat with Russian troops were referred to as "local Tuaregs" and "unknown rebels" on the channel. The border area of Kursk was called a "buffer zone." This terminology is borrowed from the Russian propaganda jargon: for instance, in May 2014, the Russians justified their invasion of the Kharkiv region and the need to capture the city of Avdiivka, destroyed by the Russian forces, in the Donetsk region in February of this year by citing the necessity of creating a "buffer zone."
The events in the Kursk region were also noted by the Ukrainian pro-government Telegram channel Vertikal, which has 196,000 subscribers. Its publication read (likely with irony), "Under Putin's orders, the Russian army command ordered the shelling of Kurchatov."
Ukrainian military correspondent and editor-in-chief of Censor.net Yuriy Butusov wrote on his Telegram channel that allegedly, one of the Russian helicopters over the Kursk region was shot down by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Radio Liberty and Interfax-Ukraine confirmed the information about SBU's involvement in the helicopter's downing with references to their unnamed sources. However, the SBU also did not officially confirm their involvement in the fighting in the Kursk region on August 6 or 7.
"The Invasion of Kursk Distracts the AFU from Heavy Fighting in Donetsk Region"
By the morning of August 7, propagandists had a more organized set of messages, primarily advising propaganda consumers to ignore Kursk, claiming that more important battles were taking place in the Donetsk region. To support this argument, they even cited Ukrainian military experts. Yuriy Butusov's position on the need to strengthen defense in the East was repeated at least 49 times,
"I don't have all the information, but if we have started advancing somewhere, it means we can hope that the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters has taken the necessary measures to reinforce the defense of Myrnohrad, Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, and New York, important cities where battles are currently taking place. This means that ammunition is being concentrated there, reliable lines are being built, and the use of drones and electronic warfare is improving."
Russian internet publications, including Lenta.ru, also spread Butusov's words. This year alone, Lenta.ru has published the viewpoints of the Ukrainian military correspondent 34 times to add credibility to Russian propaganda.
Among Russian propagandists, the thesis about "bad news for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who are trying to overshadow the story with Sudzha" was spread by a "military correspondent" with 862,000 Telegram subscribers.
"PR raids on the Tendra Spit and the Kursk region border, of course, cannot overshadow the growing negativity from the front and the decline in morale due to the forced retreat of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," wrote the same propagandist in another post.
"Civilians Suffer Again Due to Ukraine"
Alongside accusations that Ukraine is attempting to capture or attack the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant or spreading narratives about a "military adventure to distract from the problems of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Donbas," Russians propagated their traditional claim that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are deliberately killing civilians.
Denis Pushilin, the leader of the terrorists in occupied Donetsk, with 74.6 thousand followers on Telegram, wrote,
"The residents of the Donetsk People's Republic know what the enemy's treachery and viciousness are. We deeply sympathize with the residents of Kursk and share the grief of the families and friends of the deceased."
On August 7, the Russian opposition publication Meduza reported that at least five civilians were killed due to the fighting in the Kursk region. Propagandists blamed the Ukrainian Armed Forces for their deaths, writing about the "cynicism" and "cruelty" of Ukrainian soldiers. They even expressed horror that the Russian city of Sudzha might "turn into a Vovchansk." Of course, they did not mention how many Ukrainian civilians have died in Vovchansk, Bakhmut, Bucha, and other Ukrainian locations but still attempted to demonize the Ukrainian military.
"Fifteen people are hiding in the St. Nicholas Belogorsky Monastery in Gornal, Sudzha district. The building is constantly being shelled... The fiends are shelling monasteries," read the 1.3-million-follower Telegram channel of the Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov.
Propagandist Yevgeny Poddubny, with 740 thousand Telegram followers, also wrote about "terrorists from the Ukrainian Armed Forces targeting civilian cars" and allegedly destroying gas stations in the region to hinder evacuation.
Furthermore, the message from Russian President Vladimir Putin from a meeting with members of the Russian government on August 7 was also being promoted on Telegram. Putin supplemented the information about the victims and injured, which Russian officials and media reported, with propagandist clichés,
"As is known, the Kyiv regime made another large-scale provocation, indiscriminately firing various types of weapons, including missiles, at civilian buildings, residential houses, and ambulances," Putin said.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson and propagandist Maria Zakharova called the fighting in the Kursk region a "terrorist act by the Ukrainian Armed Forces," stating it was necessary to extend the mobilization, which is why the president signed the corresponding law on August 7. In reality, Zelenskyy signed the law to extend martial law and mobilization again, which Ukraine extends every 90 days. The last time the president signed such a law was on May 14, and it was valid until August 11.
"We'll Trade Our Nuclear Power Plant for Yours"
In 1,809 messages in the analyzed Telegram channels, there was discussion about "explosions in the city of Kurchatov, where the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant is located." Such wording with the mention of the nuclear power plant was the most frequent way of talking about the city of Kurchatov on the night of August 6-7. This city is more than 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. However, the acting governor of the Kursk region, Alexey Smirnov, reported that "the nuclear power plant is operating as usual." His position was disseminated by the largest Russian Telegram channels and "military correspondents." But the official's reassurances did not stop the propagandists' speculations.
"The logic is this: take Kurchatov and negotiate with Russia regarding Enerhodar with the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and anything else," suggested a Russian "military correspondent" with 382 thousand Telegram followers.
A similar sentiment was repeated at least 132 times in the propaganda Telegram channels in our sample.
Russian propaganda consumers were prepared for mentions of Enerhodar. A week before, propagandists had spread messages that the Ukrainian authorities had decided on the directions of their counteroffensive and would attack Enerhodar to save Ukraine's energy system from a harsh winter.
"Reason to Stop Transporting Russian Gas"
In at least 37 messages, there was a discussion about the gas metering station in Sudzha on the Urengoy – Pomary – Uzhhorod pipeline:
"Through this station, up to 42 million cubic meters of gas are pumped daily, providing Russia with income to finance the war. Ukraine does not plan to renew contracts for the transit of Russian gas, and the destruction of this point could be key to breaking the agreements," stated a Telegram channel with 7,000 subscribers.
This message was then repeated in chats with 1,000 to 5,000 participants. Among the Russian propagandists, this narrative was spread by Yuri Podolyaka, a native of Sumy region, a political "expert" with 2.9 million Telegram followers. He speculated about the potential benefits if the gas metering station were destroyed and the blame could be placed on Ukraine:
"There is no official information yet, but if we assume it's sabotage, the answer to the question of who benefits from an explosion on the Urengoy – Uzhhorod main gas pipeline (the last pipeline through which Russian gas goes to Europe) is obvious."
Podolyaka asserts that only the USA would benefit from stopping the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, as they would fill the gap left by Russia.
Quarterly Structure of Gas Imports to the 27 EU Member States by Bruegel, Published July 30, 2024
Propaganda exaggerates the significance of Russian gas transit through Ukraine. On July 30, 2024, the Brussels research center Bruegel published a review of gas imports to Europe. According to the structure of gas import sources to Europe, the transit of gas through Ukraine accounted for about five percent of total imports in 2023 and the first half of 2024. Russia has other routes for gas supply to Europe: pipelines passing through Belarus and Poland, as well as through Turkey. Potentially, Russia could increase gas transportation through Belarus and Poland to Germany. However, on the German side, there is no demand for Russian gas.
"Ban All Foreigners"
The events in the Kursk region also led to a surge in xenophobic statements sparked by the words of the head of the Uzbek diaspora in Moscow, Bahrom Ismailov,
"Uzbeks, Tajiks, Kyrgyz... Be ready to leave this place [Kursk region]," he wrote on Telegram on August 6.
His call was spread at least 92 times on Russian Telegram channels. Some of these posts mixed in xenophobia and the obligation of migrant workers to defend Russia,
"It means they are the first to enjoy the benefits of the country. But when the country that supports them (and they are not needed at home) needs help, they don't want to help. As sad as it sounds, Russia is just a cash cow for many," commented a Telegram channel with 568 thousand subscribers.
"All foreigner diasporas should be banned, and each leader should be given 20 years of high-security prison," wrote an author in a Telegram channel with 2.3 thousand subscribers.
"Maybe he should leave Moscow too, not to other regions of Russia, but to his kishlak along with his compatriots. Our warriors defend not only us but also this riffraff and their families," wrote another Telegram channel with 77 thousand subscribers.
"Russian Borders Are Sacred"
Russian diplomats and politicians are trying to convince Ukraine's allies to stop supporting Ukraine. For instance, Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov lamented that there was no condemnation of Kyiv or sympathy for the victims from U.S. officials,
"I would like to confirm that Russian borders are sacred. None of the terrorists will escape retribution. Washington should stop supplying weapons to Kyiv and rein in the neo-Nazis from the AFU," Antonov said.
Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev promised that after the attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the Kursk region, Russia should advance deeper into Ukrainian territory,
"From this moment, the SMO should openly take on an extraterritorial nature. This is no longer just an operation to reclaim our official territories and punish the Nazis. We can and should move into the lands of the still-existing Ukraine. To Odesa, to Kharkiv, to Dnipro, to Mykolaiv. To Kyiv and beyond... Let everyone, including the English bastards, realize: we will stop only when we find it acceptable and beneficial for ourselves," Medvedev wrote on his Telegram channel, which has almost 1.4 million subscribers.
In this case, Medvedev is trying to frame Ukraine's actions as justification for military aggression against Ukraine. This intimidation appears detached from context. After all, Russia occupied Crimea and parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions back in 2014. Since 2022, it has also occupied parts of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Additionally, Russians have been striking targets all over Ukraine with missiles and drones, and they attempted to capture Kyiv back in February 2022.
In its response to the alleged invasion of the Kursk region by the Ukrainian military, Russian propaganda used official statements, messages from anonymous experts on Telegram channels and media, and statements by Ukrainian experts to reinforce the claims of Russian propaganda. Among the key topics of discussion about the fighting in the Kursk region were accusations of Ukraine of attacking civilians, the idea that the fighting in the border area was a way to divert attention from the events in the Donetsk region, a fictitious threat to the Kursk NPP, and speculations about gas transit.
Main page illustration by Nataliya Lobach
