WASHINGTON — According to U.S. officials, Russia could take an additional two weeks to adequately respond to the Ukrainian forces that have taken control of the Kursk region following a border raid that began on August 6.

Officials, who spoke anonymously, reported that President Vladimir Putin has started gathering troops for the upcoming confrontation. However, they also indicated that Russian forces are currently stretched thin due to months of ongoing combat in a war of attrition in eastern Ukraine.

One official noted that Russia lacks sufficient personnel and equipment to push forward in the Donetsk region while also addressing the incursion in Kursk.

The border raid by Ukraine caught both Russia and its western allies, including the United States, off guard. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Monday that Ukrainian troops have now occupied almost 500 square miles of previously Russian territory, encompassing 92 villages and towns.

On Thursday, Sabrina Singh, the deputy press secretary at the Pentagon, informed reporters that Zelenskyy has indicated the purpose of Ukraine’s incursion is to establish a “buffer zone” for defense against potential Russian strikes.

“We still have several questions regarding that,” Singh mentioned.

She also stated that Russia has begun repositioning forces towards the area but did not provide additional information.

Seth Jones, a senior vice president and director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explained that Russia’s sluggish response suggests it is facing a soldier shortage, including among conscripts, which affects its ability to conduct a war in Ukraine and secure its own borders.

“Currently, President Putin seems hesitant to initiate another large-scale mobilization due to the potential significant domestic political repercussions, as well as the reluctance to divert troops from the Ukrainian front lines,” Jones stated. “As a result, Putin finds himself choosing between a slow response in Kursk or initiating a military mobilization.”

This situation implies that a delayed response poses lesser costs and risks compared to mobilization, according to Jones.

In addition, Ukraine has reportedly destroyed at least three bridges in the area which has obstructed Russia’s supply routes to the frontline. Zelenskyy mentioned that another goal is to deplete Russian resources. Putin’s reaction to this major raid, which is the most significant Russian territorial loss since World War II, has been notably slow, leading to over 200,000 Russians being displaced as a result.

Since launching its full-scale, unprovoked invasion in February 2022, Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine. Throughout the conflict, the United States has provided Ukraine with more than $55 billion in military aid.