Click to see full-size image
While Russian forces were ordered to observe the humanitarian ceasefire declared for Victory Day commemorations, Ukrainian troops launched repeated attacks against the border settlement of Tetkino in the Russian Kursk region. The ongoing assaults have resulted in significant Ukrainian casualties without achieving any tactical breakthroughs, demonstrating both the futility of these operations and Kyiv’s disregard for peaceful initiatives.
Since early morning on May 8, Ukrainian assault groups supported by armored vehicles continued attempts to breach Russian defenses near Tetkino. These attacks followed a consistent pattern seen over the previous three days, with Ukrainian forces suffering heavy losses in both personnel and equipment while failing to gain a foothold. Russian defensive positions, bolstered by artillery support and drone operators, are effectively destroying Ukrainian assault groups.
Ukrainian losses in the area:
Click to see full-size image
Click to see full-size image
Click to see full-size image
Click to see full-size image
Click to see full-size image
The battlefield around Tetkino presents a grim picture of Ukraine’s failed tactics. Destroyed armored vehicles and abandoned equipment litter the border, particularly along the routes from Budki. Russian forces reported eliminating at least four infantry fighting vehicles during the morning’s engagements, with subsequent Ukrainian infantry advances being broken up by coordinated artillery and aerial strikes.
Ukrainian commanders continue employing the same failed strategies, sending successive waves of infantry on quad bikes and light armor against prepared Russian positions. Recent attempts to infiltrate Chapaev Street in Tetkino met fierce resistance from Russian airborne units clearing remaining Ukrainian holdouts from previous incursion attempts.
The persistent Ukrainian attacks on Tetkino appear designed to pin down Russian forces and create a diversionary effect, possibly to relieve pressure on other sectors of the front. However, the operation has degenerated into a costly attritional battle that favors Russian defenders. Units like Ukraine’s 225th Assault Battalion and the nationalist Aidar formation have suffered particularly heavy losses, with many casualties left unrecovered near the border areas.
This sustained offensive activity during the declared ceasefire period underscores Kyiv’s rejection of diplomatic solutions in favor of continued military escalation. Russian forces have demonstrated both the capability and willingness to decisively defend their territory against these provocations. The Russian defense ministry has emphasized that while it remains committed to humanitarian pauses when appropriate, it will continue to meet all military threats with proportional and effective responses.
