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Military expert estimates how long Ukrainian army offensive in Kursk region could last

Sofia Polonska
13 August, 2024 Tuesday
17:40

Military expert Ivan Stupak believes that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have about a week, or possibly a little more, to advance further into the territory of the Russian Federation

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He shared this opinion on Espreso TV.

"Currently, Russian forces are attempting to move forces and reserves from other fronts to the Kursk region, particularly from areas where there is an excess of such resources. This process is slow due to bureaucracy or potential inconsistencies," Stupak explained.

The expert noted that the Ukrainian Armed Forces still have time to advance further into Russian territory.

"I believe we have a window of opportunity to make additional progress and move deeper into the Russian Federation before the Russians fully mobilize their forces and reserves. This might be about a week or slightly more. Russian military commanders view our advance as minimal and predict we will not move more than 80-100 km. They consider this distance significant, complicating logistics and troop supply. However, we will see how events unfold. For now, we have the opportunity to push as far as possible," he added.

Ukraine’s cross-border incursion in Russia’s Kursk region

On August 6, the authorities of Russia's Kursk region stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces allegedly tried to break through the Russian border, but were allegedly pushed back. Later, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that "the Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group retreated to its territory.”

Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate refused to comment on the statements regarding the Kursk region. However, NV media, citing its own source in Ukrainian intelligence, wrote that the events in the Kursk region "definitely did not involve fighters of the Russian Volunteer Corps, who are fighting as part of Ukraine's Armed Forces.”

The Institute for the Study of War noted that the Russian Defense Ministry, acting governor of the Kursk region Alexei Smirnov, and some propagandists have different versions of the events in the Kursk region.

On August 7, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin convened the Russian military leadership to discuss the situation in the Kursk region, which he called a "large-scale provocation." At the time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called on the international community to "strongly condemn the Kyiv regime's criminal attacks on Russian territory."

On the same day, Russian media reported that workers at the Kursk nuclear power plant feared that the plant's management had not prepared for a possible attack by the Ukrainian armed forces.

Additionally, in the Kursk region, the Russians have started forming UAV operator units from civilians, providing them with up to 10 hours of training.

On August 7, a state of emergency was introduced in the Kursk region.

On August 8, the Institute for War Studies reported that Ukrainian troops confirmed advancing up to 10 km deep into the Kursk region as mechanized offensives continued.

On August 8, Russia’s National Guard announced that it had implemented additional security measures at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant to protect a "particularly important facility."

The Washington Post reported that Ukraine has taken control of the gas metering station in Sudzha, Kursk region. Previously, Russia claimed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had occupied several border villages and part of the town of Sudzha.

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated that Ukraine’s actions in the Kursk region in Russia "are consistent with U.S. policy" and do not cause any escalation.

On Friday, August 9, it was reported that terrorists from PMC Wagner intend to fight for Russia in the Kursk region.

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