Russia chooses to ignore extent of Ukraine's control in Kursk region - Estonian intelligence

This information was reported by Lieutenant Colonel Janek Kesselmann, Deputy Commander of the Estonian Military Intelligence Centre, according to ERR.

Kesselmann stated, “Currently, Ukraine retains the strategic initiative due to the exceptionally successful operation in the Kursk region. Reports indicate that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are now controlling approximately 900 to 1,300 square kilometers of the Kursk region.”

Kesselmann noted that the destruction of the bridges across the Seim River in the Kursk region has created a difficult situation for Russian troops. They now face a choice: either retreat, which would leave the area under Ukrainian control, or use their resources to rebuild the bridges and restore their supply lines.

“Russia will likely find neither option easy,” the deputy commander of the intelligence center stated.

He also mentioned that the Russian military is currently establishing a defensive line along the Rylsk-Lgov-Kursk route.

"Apparently, it makes no sense for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to advance in this direction, as the strategic dilemma facing Russia has already been established. Their dilemma is as follows: either halt the offensive towards the Donetsk region or acknowledge Ukraine's presence in the Kursk region. It seems the Russian regime has chosen to ignore the scale of the problem that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are causing in the Kursk region,” Kesselmann explained.

He also noted that Russia is now compelled to involve conscripts in the war, despite their previous claims to the contrary.

“Russia has been insisting since the beginning of the war that this would not happen,” he reminded.

• On August 22, Ukrainian defenders conducted successful offensives in the Luhansk region.