Ukraine has lost more than 40% of the territory it took in Russia’s Kursk region during a surprise attack in August, according to a senior military source from Kyiv.
The source, part of Ukraine’s General Staff, reported that Russian forces have sent around 59,000 troops to the Kursk region since Ukraine’s forces advanced quickly, catching Russia off guard during its long invasion of Ukraine.
At one point, Ukraine controlled about 1,376 square kilometres of the region, but now it holds approximately 800 square kilometres due to Russian counterattacks. The source emphasized that they will keep this territory for as long as it’s strategically sensible.
This offensive into Kursk was the first time a foreign power has invaded Russia on the ground since World War Two. Ukraine aimed to limit Russian attacks in the east and gain leverage in future peace talks. However, Russian forces are still making steady progress in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.
The military source also noted that about 11,000 North Korean troops have arrived in the Kursk region to support Russia, but most are still completing their training. The Russian Defence Ministry did not immediately comment on Ukraine’s assessment of the situation in Kursk, and Reuters could not independently verify the numbers mentioned.
Ukraine’s armed forces chief stated that their troops are not only facing strong Russian reinforcements in Kursk but are also trying to support two besieged fronts in eastern Ukraine while preparing for a ground assault in the south.
In the Donetsk region, Kurakhove is currently the most pressing concern for Ukraine. Russian forces there are advancing 200-300 meters each day and have broken through in some areas using armoured vehicles and anti-drone systems. Kurakhove is important as it is close to the key supply hub of Pokrovsk.
According to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russia currently has about 575,000 troops fighting in Ukraine and plans to increase this number to around 690,000. Russia does not share its troop numbers, and the figures could not be verified.
As Ukraine faces a larger and better-equipped enemy, it seeks to disrupt Russian supply lines by targeting ammunition depots and military bases inside Russia. Ukraine received a boost to do this after President Joe Biden allowed the use of U.S.-supplied missiles on deep Russian targets due to North Korea’s involvement in the conflict.
Recently, Ukraine launched U.S. ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles into Russia, with one target being an arms depot about 110 kilometers inside Russia. In response, Russia fired a new medium-range missile into the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, warning NATO.
Ukrainian officials are in talks with the U.S. and Britain about new air defence systems to protect cities from longer-range threats. The military is also reinforcing air defences over Kyiv and planning similar measures for Sumy in the north and Kharkiv in the northeast, both near front lines. Currently, Russia occupies one-fifth of Ukraine, and President Vladimir Putin demands that Ukraine abandon its NATO ambitions and withdraw from four regions partially controlled by Russia—demands Ukraine has rejected as a call for surrender.