The head of British intelligence, MI6, Richard Moore, said Ukraine's offensive in Kursk was “a typically bold and daring move,” adding that it was unclear how long Ukrainian forces would be able to control Russian territory.
War in Russia: Kursk Offensive Has Russian Elites Concerned
In turn, CIA Director Bill Burns said that the Ukrainian offensive on Kursk was a “significant tactical achievement” that raised Ukrainian morale and exposed Russia's weaknesses. “It raised questions among the Russian elite about where this is all headed,” Burns emphasized during a conference in London, quoted by “Financial Times“.
MI6 chief Richard Moore assessed that recent Russian sabotage operations in Europe were “reckless”, and called Russian intelligence “a bit savage”. But the heads of the CIA and MI6 admitted that the greatest threat is the rise of China. “The international world order is being threatened in a way that we have not seen since the Cold War”, stressed Richard Moore and Bill Burns.
Ukraine controls Kursk. Volodymyr Zelensky: We do not need this land
President Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview for American television NBC said that Kiev plans to keep Russian territories in Kursk region indefinitely. They are to be a bargaining chip in possible peace negotiations with Vladimir Putin. – We do not need this land. We do not want to introduce the Ukrainian way of life there – Zelensky explained. However, he did not respond to questionWhether Ukraine intends to occupy further territories belonging to Russia. He only pointed out that the key to victory is to surprise the enemy.
Later in the interview, Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that the United States had no knowledge of the planned occupation of Russian border areas. He added that the action was carried out in the strictest secrecy even in Ukraine.
Ukrainian troops entered Russia's Kursk region on August 6. Kiev says Ukrainian forces control about 1,500 square kilometers of Russian territory. During attack Several hundred Russian soldiers were taken prisoner, who can be exchanged for captured Ukrainians.