An elite Russian commander told Moscow's troops that they would 'go to heaven' if they died in Kursk

• A Russian commander said that soldiers who died serving their country in Kursk would go to heaven.
• Ukraine's counteroffensive into Kursk took its Western allies and Russia by surprise.
• Kyiv says its forces have captured roughly 386 square miles of Russian territory since August 6.

A Russian special forces unit commander told the parents of conscripts that their children would go to heaven if they died serving their country in Kursk.