Russians have regained control of 40% of the territory in the Kursk region that was previously held by Ukraine.
Ukraine has lost 40% of the territory in the Kursk region due to the Russian counteroffensive, which it had managed to capture since August 2024. This was reported on Saturday, November 23, by Reuters, citing a source in the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to the British agency's source, Ukraine controlled approximately 1376 km2 in the Kursk region since August 2024. However, this area has decreased by more than 40% due to the Russian counteroffensive, meaning that Ukrainian forces now control roughly 800 km2 of territory.
“We will hold this territory as long as it is militarily advisable,” the source told the publication.
The informant also noted that the Russian leadership has deployed about 59,000 troops in the Kursk region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on November 23 at the III International Conference on Food Security Grain From Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin has tasked his troops with expelling the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the Kursk region by January 20, 2025, which coincides with the inauguration of Donald Trump.
“For Putin, the most important thing is to push us out of the Kursk region. And all these stories, all these demonstrative strikes with new missiles – it’s not just for show. He has set this task. I am confident that he wants to expel us by January 20 of next year,” the president remarked.
Meanwhile, the operation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region has demonstrated that Russia is unable to protect its own territories. Russian troops are suffering significant losses there.
“Putin has never experienced such losses before. One of our interceptions regarding the Kursk direction indicates that he is relaying personal requests through command, stating that the entire fate of the ‘SVO’ hinges on the Kursk operation,” Zelensky added.
UAF Offensive in the Kursk Region
On August 6, Ukrainian troops entered the territory of the Kursk region, which borders Sumy. Within a few days, the Armed Forces managed to capture the strategic city of Sudzha, and a week after the offensive began, they had already secured 1000 km2 of Russian territory. On August 12, President Volodymyr Zelensky and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi officially confirmed the defensive forces' offensive in the Kursk region for the first time.
On September 13, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russian troops had begun counteroffensive operations in the Kursk region. By September 18, the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced the halt of the Russian counteroffensive.