Ukraine did not inform the U.S. military about its surprise cross-border incursion into the Kursk region of southern Russia, a senior defense official said, and has not told the U.S. about its long-term plan following the move.
“We didn’t get any advanced notification,” the official said Wednesday. “What the Ukrainians were able to do was operational security, and that is something that I think we should be giving credit for. It definitely surprised the Russians.”
Since entering Russian territory on Aug. 6, Ukrainian forces claim to have captured 390 square miles of land, which would make it the largest attack on Russia since World War II. The surprise attack has raised questions about the value of the offensive and how long Ukraine can hold the land it takes.
“I know they were concerned about being able to protect that area and not have the Russians incur, and so from that perspective, they’ve been effective in what they’ve been able to do,” the official said.
But the U.S. is uncertain about Ukraine’s overall objectives after the incursion, and the official said the Pentagon is “asking the Ukrainians what their real intent is, kind of long term, and how it plays into future negotiations.”
Asked about the possibility of counter-escalation, the official said Russia has “done some things to reinforce, in particular, their citizens in that area, but no major movements to speak of.”
Ukrainian forces on Wednesday advanced even further into Russia and now claim to have captured 100 servicemen and destroyed a Russian Su-34 jet. That type of jet has been used to drop glide bombs on Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials say the new land would help protect its borders from Russian attacks, creating a buffer zone.
