On August 6, Ukraine launched an audacious military operation into Russia’s Kursk Oblast. One hundred days later, the Ukrainians still hold a significant portion of Russian territory. The operation has achieved its primary objectives: shifting the narrative of the war, reminding the world of Ukraine’s battlefield capability, and forcing Russia to divert resources to Kursk that could otherwise be deployed elsewhere. However, Russia is mounting a counteroffensive in the region bolstered by 10,000 North Korean troops. What can the United States do to help Ukraine sustain its momentum?

This question was central to a recent discussion featuring Glib Voloskyi, the analyst with the PJ Initiative Center, during a stream on the Hudson Institute’s YouTube channel. A panel of experts evaluated the first 100 days of the Kursk operation and discussed its implications for the next US presidential administration. Here are the key points from the discussion.

The Kursk incursion began as a tactical and operational success, reminiscent of Ukraine’s 2022 Kupiansk-Lyman operation.

After the initial shock, Russia regrouped its forces and launched a slow but partially successful counterattack.

Currently, Russia is preparing for another major push. It has deployed 50,000 soldiers, including 10,000 Korean forces, in the Kursk Oblast.

Ukraine’s immediate challenge is to weaken Russian forces before they reach the Sumy region’s border.

With a sufficient quantity of missiles, delivered swiftly and unexpectedly, Ukraine can disrupt any attempt by Russia to launch a major offensive operation in Kursk.

Russia will surely react by withdrawing its logistic nodes, command and control centers, and aircraft beyond the range of long-range weapons. This will come at a cost.

• Aircraft Reaction Time: The reaction time for aircraft will increase, and the number of missions they can perform daily will decline, thereby reducing Russian firepower.
• Command Centers: Moving command centers further from the frontline will worsen situational awareness and hinder operational control.
• Logistics: Remote logistic nodes will deteriorate responsiveness to frontline units' needs, creating short-term shortages that could disrupt the tempo of the Russian offensive and give Ukraine opportunities for counterattacks.

The US can support Ukraine’s efforts by authorizing strikes deep into Russian territory and providing long-range weapons. While these measures may not decisively alter the war’s outcome, they can help Ukraine stabilize and protect the Kursk front and improve the situation.