Swift shift from offense to defense crucial in Kursk region operation - Ukrainian general

He shared his insights on Espreso TV.

“The Ukrainian Armed Forces are still pressing forward, though at a slower pace — and the reasons are clear. Russia is mobilizing its resources, gathering what they had at the border, and pulling forces from the regions around Kursk. They’ve thrown everything at this — none of it has stopped our advance,” he stated.

General Romanenko explained that the Ukrainian offensive is naturally slowing due to the influx of Russian troops to the area.

“That’s why they’re relocating a marine brigade from the frontlines, especially from the south, from Sevastopol. Additionally, soldiers are being brought in from Murmansk — despite Putin’s promise that they wouldn’t see combat. They’re coming from Kaliningrad and elsewhere. Russia is slowly building up its forces, so the advance is slowing down, signaling that it may be time for the Ukrainian Defense Forces to transition from offense to defense. It’s crucial to make this shift at the right moment, considering the objective realities. This way, even if Russian resources overwhelm us in defense, we’ll crush them,” Ihor Romanenko asserted.

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.

On August 13, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine controls 74 settlements in Russia's Kursk region.