Ukrainian forces have advanced into Russian territory, with troops pushing up to 10 kilometers deep into Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
This development was confirmed by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on August 8.
According to the ISW, geolocated footage from early August reveals that Ukrainian armored vehicles have moved along the 38K-030 motorway, advancing approximately 10 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border.
This advance suggests that Ukrainian troops have managed to break through at least two Russian defensive lines, as well as a stronghold, in their ongoing operations.
The ISW’s analysis suggests that these operations are part of Ukraine's strategy to apply pressure on Russia by targeting areas deeper within Russian territory.
The Kremlin's response to the Ukrainian advance has been cautious.
Russian officials have acknowledged the Ukrainian incursion but have tried to downplay its importance, likely to avoid causing public fear or unrest.
Some Russian military bloggers, however, have been less reserved in their criticism.
They have harshly criticized the Russian military command for failing to detect and prevent the Ukrainian offensive in Kursk Oblast.
Evolving Tactics
Ukrainian forces have been able to carry out these deep incursions into Russian territory by adapting their tactics on the battlefield.
For example, Ukrainian troops reportedly used a first-person view (FPV) drone to shoot down a Russian Mi-28 helicopter over Kursk Oblast.
In a related analysis, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Chief, Kyrylo Budanov, predicted that Russia’s offensive potential will likely peak within the next one to two months.
This aligns with the ISW’s assessment, suggesting that Ukraine might be trying to take advantage of a possible weakening in Russian forces.
