US opposes ATACMS use on Russian territory, observes Russian troop movements to Kursk

CNN reported the information, citing statements by US officials.

“It is apparent to us that Mr. Putin and the Russian military are diverting some resources, some units, towards the Kursk Oblast to ostensibly counter what the Ukrainians are doing,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told CNN on Thursday.

According to him, the movement of Russian troops from Ukraine “doesn’t mean that Mr. Putin has given up military operations in the northeast part of Ukraine or even down towards the south, towards places like Zaporizhya.” He emphasized that active hostilities are still ongoing at the front. 

According to two other sources familiar with Western intelligence, Russia does not appear to be moving its larger and better-trained units from Ukraine to the Kursk region.

"We haven’t seen a substantial move [of Russian troops] just yet, and we can’t tell whether that’s just because they’re only just getting started moving forces, or whether they just don’t have the forces to move,” one of the sources said.

Additionally, officials stated that the United States is hesitant to allow Ukraine to use the long-range weapons provided within the Kursk region—not due to the risk of escalation, but because of the limited stockpile of long-range missiles, particularly ATACMS. In their view, these missiles would be more effectively used in the liberation of occupied Crimea.

• The Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, said that Russia's response to the Ukrainian military operation in the Kursk region was “slow and scattered.”