The Russian Federation is recruiting volunteers into defense units to liberate the Kursk region.

Russia is creating new territorial defense volunteer units

The authorities of the Russian Federation are forming new territorial defense volunteer units after the Armed Forces of Ukraine invaded the Kursk region. This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

ISW analysts note that this step indicates President Vladimir Putin's unwillingness to take serious measures to counter the Kursk operation due to the risk of social discontent or the loss of necessary units due to the relocation of their experienced fighters.

Acting governor of the Kursk region Alexei Smirnov announced the creation of the "BARS-Kursk" volunteer unit and noted that its main mission is to ensure security in the Kursk region.

Smirnov also emphasized the unit's cooperation with the Russian military and the counter-terrorism operation headquarters, as well as providing humanitarian aid to the local population of the border settlements.

According to the governor, volunteers will join the unit on six-month contracts, undergo training and receive the necessary weapons. The announcement of the recruitment to the unit was published by the authorities of the Kursk region on August 24.

OTU "Kharkiv" spokesman Vitaly Sarantsev reported that the Russian authorities are also forming the "BARS-Bryansk" and "BARS-Belgorod" units to support the Northern group of Russian troops. The three units plan to recruit a total of 4,921 volunteers.

The ISW report claims that the formation of new volunteer units aligns with the Kremlin's strategy aimed at preventing the coordination of troops involved in combat operations, particularly in the Pokrovsky and Toretsk directions. Thus helping to speed up the Russian offensive operation in the Kursk region.

Ukraine currently controls 1,294 square kilometers in the Kursk region, consisting of 100 settlements.

According to CNN, the Armed Forces of Ukraine's offensive in the Kursk region shows the vulnerability of the Russian army. It also serves as a signal to Ukraine's allies that it can change the course of the war.

According to The New York Times, the main goal of the Russian leadership now is to focus on advancing the occupying forces in the Donetsk region, not the Kursk region.