What Happened to Russian Conscripts in Kursk in 2024 — and Afterwards
In August 2024, two and a half years after the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine had begun, the Armed Forces of Ukraine started their incursion operation in Russian Kursk Oblast. Among those guarding the Russian border, most were young conscripts of varying levels of training. IStories and Verstka researched how the conscripts had been drawn into hostilities and how the war affected the…
On the night of August 5-6, 2024, Russian soldiers stationed near the Russian-Ukrainian border in Kursk Oblast heard suspicious military activity. Two conscripts, Maxim and his fellow soldier, volunteered to conduct a reconnaissance mission to a neighboring platoon closer to the border. Upon their arrival, they mistook two vehicles in the forest belt for Ukrainian vehicles and encountered gunfire.
Maxim's comrade was shot three times in the head before falling to the ground, and Maxim himself was also shot. Initially believing it was a dream, Maxim came to his senses and realized the gravity of the situation. According to IStories and Verstka, at least 77 conscripts died as a result of the Ukrainian incursion campaign into Kursk Oblast in 2024, with over 30 more missing.
The conscripts arrived at the border in late March 2024, replacing demobilized soldiers. Some conscripts volunteered deliberately, while others were unaware they were serving at the border. The training level varied, with some conscripts having received intensive training and others only basic instruction. The daily routine for the conscripts consisted of serving at strongpoints, digging trenches, and going on guard duty.
Written by urgent.news from iStories (Important Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
