Summary and Key Points: The Ukrainian military has made significant advances inside Russia’s Kursk Oblast, reaching several miles deep and causing heavy casualties among Russian forces.

-The surprise offensive, which began on August 6, involves two experienced Ukrainian brigades and has led to intense fighting, with the Ukrainians reportedly ambushing and destroying a Russian convoy, causing up to 500 casualties. The Russian military, caught off guard, is now responding, but struggles with the lack of entrenched lines.

Most Important Point: The U.S. publicly supports Ukraine’s actions, though it is unclear if Washington was informed in advance of the cross-border operation.

Ukraine's Bold Invasion of Kursk Oblast: What It Means for the War

The Ukrainian military continues to advance inside Russia’s Kursk Oblast on the third day of its surprise offensive.

The Russians are beginning to respond to the Ukrainian foray, and there is heavy fighting in the area. However, since there aren’t any fixed, entrenched lines, the side that can maneuver better has an advantage.

Ukrainian Invasion of Russia

The Ukrainian forces have committed at least two experienced brigades (the 22nd Mechanized Brigade and the 82nd Air Assault Brigade) in the operation. The Ukrainian forces have made significant advances and are several miles deep within Russian territory.

“Ukrainian cross-border mechanized offensive operations into Kursk Oblast that began on August 6 are continuing as part of a Ukrainian operational effort within Russian territory. ISW will not offer assessments about the intent of this Ukrainian operation in order to avoid compromising Ukrainian operational security,” the Institute for the Study of War assessed in its latest operational update, indirectly showcasing the promise in the Ukrainian foray.

The Ukrainians are wreaking havoc. Last night, the Russian military sent a convoy of several vehicles as reinforcements near Rylsk. The Ukrainians were waiting in ambush and destroyed 15 vehicles, killing and wounding scores of Russian troops. Indeed, military bloggers covering the conflict report that Russian casualties from the ambush could be as many as 500. If this estimate proves to be accurate, it would amount to one of the single largest losses for the Russian forces in the entire war.

The Russian military has been caught completely off guard. Indeed, Russian forces are surprised to be fighting a foreign military force within their borders for the first time since the Germans in World War II. For example, the Ukrainian forces have shot down at least two Russian helicopters with suicide drones over the skies of Kursk Oblast.

Ukraine War: What the United States Is Saying

The United States has been the strongest supporter of Ukraine in this war. But it seems that not even the White House knew about the Ukrainian plans to invade Russia—or if it knew, it silently acquiesced.

“In terms of this actual operation that’s ongoing in the Kursk region that you’ve referenced, I’d refer you to the Ukrainians to speak more to that. We are getting more information, but really it’s for them to speak to their own operations,” Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said in a press conference.

Nevertheless, the United States supports the Ukrainian actions in public and has given the green light to use U.S.-provided weaponry and munitions in the operation.

“So they are taking actions to protect themselves from attacks that are coming from a region that are [sic] within the US policy of where they can operate, you know, our weapons, our systems, our capabilities,” Singh added.

The Pentagon’s deputy press secretary added that the Ukrainian leadership is aware of the U.S. policy in terms of how and when to use U.S.-provided weapon systems.

But as the dynamics have shifted on the battlefield, they’ve been able to actually push the Russians back further into Russian territory. But as they see attacks coming across the border, they have to be able to have the capabilities to respond. And so you’re seeing some of these cross-border counter fire measures that they’re being able to take that are near the border of Ukraine,” she added.

About the Author

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MA from Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

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