NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, has commented on Russia's sluggish and disjointed reaction to Ukraine's military operations in the Kursk region. According to Cavoli, Russia is struggling to determine who should be responsible for addressing hostilities within its borders. Additionally, Moscow faces a shortage of available military reserves to counter Ukraine’s advances in Kursk.

Cavoli highlights that a significant portion of Russia's ground forces are tied up in Ukraine, leaving few reserves within Russia itself. The remaining units are largely made up of conscripts who are legally barred from being deployed in Ukraine, resulting in slower mobilization. He also notes that while Russia has transferred a large number of air forces to the Kursk region, the extent and effectiveness of any additional ground force reinforcements remain unclear.

The general underscores that some units from eastern Ukraine have been moved to the Kursk region, but it is uncertain how quickly these forces can be deployed or how much priority they will be given compared to other areas of war.