Ukraine has lost control of more than 40 percent of the territory occupied by Russia in Kursk. The country's military officials claimed that this happened in the face of a Russian counterattack. British news agency Reuters reported this.
According to a senior official of the Ukrainian General Staff, Ukraine initially took control of an area of ​​1,376 square kilometers by carrying out a surprise operation in Kursk in August. But now this amount has reduced to 800 square kilometers.
It was the first ground operation by a foreign power on Russian soil since World War II. Kiev's aim in this attack was to reduce the intensity of Russian attacks in the eastern and northeastern regions of Ukraine, stop their advance and seize the opportunity to put additional pressure on the ceasefire talks.
But Russian forces are still advancing in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian military, there are about 11,000 North Korean troops in Kursk. But most of them are still training.
Russia has neither acknowledged nor denied the presence of North Korean troops.
In addition to fighting against Russian forces in Kursk, the Ukrainian army chief said they have to deal with two battlefields in eastern Ukraine and an upcoming infantry attack in the south.
This conflict has further complicated the security situation in Eastern Europe. Continued counter-attacks by both Russia and Ukraine are complicating the path to a military and diplomatic solution.
Meanwhile, Ukraine says Russian forces are advancing 200 to 300 meters per day in the Kurakhov region of eastern Ukraine. In some areas, they have broken through important defenses with the help of armored vehicles and drone defense systems.
Kurakhov is a strategically important town on the way to Pokrovsk, the important supply hub of Donetsk.
Currently, 575,000 Russian troops are fighting in Ukraine, Kiev claims. They fear that this number can reach 690 thousand. However, Moscow did not reveal the number of its troops.
Ukraine has been retaliating against Russian supply lines, arsenals and airfields in a fight against a large and sophisticated Russian force.
This month, President Joe Biden authorized Kiev to use US missiles inside Russia. After that, Ukraine launched British Storm Shadow and US ATACMS missiles inside Russia.
Russia considers the attack a provocation by the West. The Kremlin has also threatened to retaliate for the attack.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is negotiating with the United States and the United Kingdom for a new air defense system. In addition, they plan to strengthen air defense in Kiev, Sumy and Kharkiv.
