Russia has begun to deploy its forces to Kursk Oblast, but the exact number of Russian troops currently in place or awaiting redeployment is unknown, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said in an interview with MSNBC.

Ukraine has achieved tactical success in its Kursk incursion, claiming to control 82 Russian settlements, including the town of Sudzha, as of Aug. 15, according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Ukraine also established the first military administration in the Ukrainian-held parts of Russia’s Kursk Oblast, which will be led by General Eduard Moskaliov, a former commander of the Joint Forces, Syrskyi added.

Kirby declined to assess the Ukrainian operation in Kursk Oblast but said that the U.S. was monitoring Russia"s reaction and the redeployment of its troops.

“The U.S. is in “real-time” contact with Ukraine to better understand the situation in Kursk Oblast. In the meantime, we are going to continue to make sure that Ukraine has the weapons and capabilities that it needs to defend itself. We are going to continue to talk to Ukrainians”, - Kirby said.

He refused to answer a question about further missile shipments to Ukraine, adding that the U.S. will announce new aid packages “in the coming weeks”.