Intense Kursk Fighting Continues Amid Fog Of War

Amid a thick 'fog of war' making confirmation of territorial gains or losses difficult to verify, it appears clear that intense fighting is ongoing in Russia's Kursk oblast for the third consecutive day. Initial reports on 6 August indicated that a small-scale operation was underway. However, through 7 and 8 August it has become apparent that rather than the initial 100 Ukrainian troops mentioned in reports, it would appear that a force of 1,000 or more have launched the largest incursion into Russian territory to date.

• The operation has caught many off guard. Foremost Russia, which is now scrambling to re-deploy forces from other areas (and potentially even mercenaries from the Africa Corps, formerly known as the Wagner Group). However, also the United States. The White House indicated on 7 August that it was making enquiries to Kyiv about the aims of the operation.
• WaPo reportsthat it has seen unverified video footage claiming to show Ukrainian troops fighting in US-made Stryker vehicles. The US has allows the use of some weaponry it provides to be used at certain points along the border, but conditions still prohibit the use of US-supplied vehicles in direct assaults on Russian territory.
• Newsweek reports: "Fighting has erupted between Russian and Ukrainian forces near the village of Kromskie Byki. The settlement is some 12 miles to the town of Lgov, and control over the area would allow Ukraine's forces to easily advance to Kurchatov, where the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant is located..." There is no indication that Ukrainian forces are seeking to take control of the NPP.