Kyiv (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ukraine has lost over 40% of territory captured in Kursk as Russian counterattacks intensify.
A senior Ukrainian military source has revealed that Ukraine has lost over 40% of the territory in Russia’s Kursk area that it rapidly captured in a surprise attack in August as Russian forces have scaled waves of counter-attacks.
How are Russian counterattacks impacting Kursk’s captured areas?
As reported by Reuters, the source, who is on Ukraine’s General Staff, stated Russia had deployed some 59,000 soldiers to the Kursk region since Kyiv’s forces swept in and moved swiftly, catching Moscow’s impromptu 2-1/2 years into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“At most, we controlled approximately 1,376 square kilometres (531 square miles), now of course this territory is smaller. The enemy is growing its counterattacks,”
the source expressed.
“Now we control approximately 800 square kilometres (309 square miles). We will hold this territory for as long as is militarily appropriate.”
The Kursk offensive was the foremost ground attack on Russia by a foreign power since World War Two and witnessed Moscow unprepared. With the thrust into Kursk, Kyiv strived to stem Russian attacks in eastern and northeastern Ukraine, force Russia to pull back forces slowly advancing in the east, and give Kyiv extra pull in any future peace negotiations. But Russian forces are still steadily increasing in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.
The Ukrainian General Staff source restated that nearly 11,000 North Korean troops had reached the Kursk region in support of Russia, but that the majority of their forces were still finishing their training.
Why is the Kurakhove region critical for both sides?
Moreover, the General Staff source expressed the Kurakhove region was the most terrifying for Kyiv now as Russian forces were moving there at 200-300 meters a day and had handled to break through in some locations with armoured vehicles supported by anti-drone defences.
The town of Kurakhove is a footing stone towards the vital logistical hub of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
Overall Russia has nearly 575,000 troops fighting in Ukraine at the moment, the Ukrainian General Staff source expressed, and is aiming to expand its forces up to around 690,000. The Ukrainian General Staff source also said the military had also executed measures to bolster air defences over the capital Kyiv and prepared similar steps for the city of Sumy in the north and Kharkiv in the northeast, both near the front lines.
