Ukraine lost more than 40 percent of territory in Russia's Kursk region, which it quickly captured in a surprise offensive in August. The losses are the result of a wave of counterattacks by Russian forces, a military source at the Ukrainian General Staff said on Saturday, quoted by Reuters.
According to the source Russia has deployed approximately 59,000 troops to the Kursk region since Kiev's forces entered the region and advanced rapidly.
“We had a maximum control of about 1,376 square kilometers, now of course the territory is smaller. The enemy is intensifying its counterattacks,” the source said. “We now control about 800 square kilometers. We will hold this territory as long as it is appropriate from a military point of view,” it added.
By advancing on Kursk, Kyiv wanted to deter Russian attacks in the east and northeast Ukraineforce Russia to withdraw the forces gradually advancing in the east and give itself an additional advantage in future peace negotiations.
Russian soldiers in the Kursk regionRUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY PRESS /PAP/EPA
Russian advances
A Ukrainian general staff source reiterated that about 11,000 North Korean troops had arrived in the Kursk region to support Russia, but most of their forces were still completing training.
A source in the general staff also said that the Kurakhov direction is currently the most dangerous for Kiev, as Russian forces are advancing there at a rate of 200-300 meters a day and have managed to break through in some areas with armored vehicles supported by anti-drone defenses.
According to the source, Russia currently has about 575,000 soldiers fighting in Ukraine and is aiming to increase its forces to about 690,000.
Main photo source: RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY PRESS /PAP/EPA