Abstract: An actuation device for actuating a circuit breaker, has a circuit arrangement and a plurality of resistor devices, wherein a plurality of first switching elements of the circuit arrangement are connected to a respectively assigned first voltage source and a respectively assigned resistor device and have a switching input that is connected to an actuation logic unit, wherein this actuation logic unit furthermore has a superordinate actuation input and a plurality of sensor inputs. A method for operating such an actuation device is also presented, wherein, during the switching-on or the switching-off process of the circuit breaker, the plurality of first switching elements are switched on in a clocked manner and therefore generate a target voltage profile at the control input of the circuit breaker.