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According to preliminary reports on August 17, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation withdrew from the small border area in the Kursk region. The Russian army crossed the local Seim River north of the village of Tetkino.
In order to take defense on more advantageous positions, the Russian military reportedly launched an organised retreat from some border positions. Russian forces prepared new lines of defense along the eastern border of the river.
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Before the military forces withdrew from the small border area, they secured the evacuation of the local civilian residents. There is one settlement located on the Russian territory on the western bank of the Seim River. This is the village of Otruba. North of Otruba, Ukrainian border goes along the river.
According to local reports, during their withdrawal, Russian forces blew up two bridges across the Seim River in the villages of Tetkino and Popovo-Lezhachi. The bridges were destroyed when the Armed Forces of Ukraine were trying to approach them.
The area near Tetkino has been heavily shelled by Ukrainian artillery, drones and even military aircraft with presumably NATO missiles since the very beginning of hostilities. Amid the ongoing military operations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region, the intensity of shelling has increased significantly there. Attempts by Ukrainian sabotage groups to break through the border were also recorded. The Ukrainian military has also accumulated significant reserves in the border region of Sumy. According to information in open sources, the Ukrainian army may attempt quite large offensive operations in the Tetkino area. Their main goal would most likely be to contain Russian forces with battles and stretch the front. The organized withdrawal of Russian forces from the small border zone allows the Russian army to strengthen its defenses in this direction, and the river becomes a significant obstacle for the Ukrainian infantry.
