Additional Coverage:
- An elite Russian commander told Moscow’s troops that they would ‘go to heaven’ if they died in Kursk (newsbreak.com)
Local aid workers were seen next to a damaged building in Kursk following a Ukrainian military strike. (Photo by TATYANA MAKEYEVA/Getty Images)
A Russian military leader has asserted that soldiers who perish while serving in Kursk are assured a place in heaven. Unexpectedly, Ukraine’s recent advance into Kursk caught both Western nations and Russia off-guard, with Kyiv reporting the capture of approximately 386 square miles of Russian-held territory since August 6.
The family members of drafted soldiers were told by a Russian special forces unit commander that their loved ones would ascend to heaven if they died serving their nation. This statement came as Ukraine initiated a bold campaign into the Russian region of Kursk on August 6, compelling Russian President Vladimir Putin to redeploy some forces from Ukraine.
In the face of demands from parents to withdraw their children from the battlefront, Commander Apti Alaudinov, shared a message via Telegram on August 18, declaring it a national duty to defend the country when under attack. He stressed that those dying in defense of their homeland and beliefs would find eternal peace, as reported by Meduza, referencing his video on Telegram.
The offensive by Ukraine was generally not anticipated by NATO, who believed such actions were at least a year away. Nevertheless, analysts have acknowledged the effectiveness of this swift military action. According to the Institute for the Study of War in Washington, D.C., there’s a significant “stark contrast” in the amount of territory captured by Ukraine in just a week compared to that acquired by Russia earlier in the year.
Kyiv announced that its forces have reclaimed nearly as much territory from Russia since the start of the offensive as Russia had occupied in Ukraine throughout the year. This operation was carried out without prior notification to Ukraine’s allies who might have deemed the plan “unrealistic,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Recently, Ukraine’s intelligence reported capturing 102 Russian soldiers in Kursk. A video posted by the Ukrainian “I Want to Live” intelligence project showed dozens of captured troops lying on the ground next to a road, indicating they had surrendered. Russian military officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding these developments.