Ukraine's military operation in Russia's Kursk Oblast has reportedly advanced 28-35 kilometers and captured 1,263 square kilometers, according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz noted that the operation is limited in both time and space, emphasizing its secretive preparation. President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that the incursion was necessary due to the lack of support for using Western long-range weapons against Russia. Meanwhile, intense fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, with Ukrainian forces repelling around 66 Russian assaults on the Pokrovsk front. The U.S. Pentagon is seeking clarity on Ukraine's long-term plans following this incursion, acknowledging their battlefield effectiveness. Analysts warn that sustaining the operation in Kursk may prove challenging as winter approaches and Russian defenses strengthen.