Ukraine has lost more than 40 percent of the territory it captured in a surprise offensive in August in Russia’s Kursk region after Russian forces launched several waves of counterattacks, a senior Ukrainian military source said.
The source, within Ukraine’s General Staff, said Russia had deployed around 59,000 troops to the Kursk region after Kiev’s forces launched a blitzkrieg and advanced quickly, taking Moscow by surprise two-and-a-half years after its invasion of Ukraine.
“At most, we controlled about 1,376 square kilometers. Now, of course, this territory is smaller. The enemy is increasing its counterattacks,” said the quoted source.
“Now we control about 800 square kilometers. We will have control over this territory as long as it is necessary from a military point of view”, the Ukrainian source also said.
The Kursk Offensive was the first land invasion of Russia by a foreign power since World War II and caught Moscow off guard.
With the invasion of Russia’s Kursk region, Kiev aimed to halt Russian attacks in eastern and northeastern Ukraine, force Russia to withdraw its gradually advancing forces in the east, and give Kiev an advantage in possible future peace negotiations. .
But Russian forces continue to advance steadily in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
The source within the Ukrainian General Staff reiterated that approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers have arrived in the Kursk region in support of Russia, but most of these forces are still continuing their training.
The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Kiev’s latest assessment of the situation in the Kursk region.
Reuters could not independently verify the figures or information provided.
Moscow has not yet confirmed or denied the presence of North Korean forces in the Kursk region.
Source: www.cotidianul.ro
