Two weeks into the Ukrainian army’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, Moscow officials are adjusting to the situation, viewing it as a “new normal.” Despite the ongoing conflict, authorities are reluctant to cancel upcoming gubernatorial elections. Kremlin propagandists are working to normalize sending conscripts to border areas, while officials consider another mobilization. Initially shocked, Russian elites are now adapting to the Ukrainian forces’ presence, which, though far from regional centers, marks a significant and troubling development.