Ukraine is losing positions in the Kursk region

Ukraine lost more than 40 percent of the Russian territories occupied in August. Russia has deployed about 59,000 troops in the Kursk region to stop the Kyiv march. In addition, about 11,000 North Korean soldiers have arrived in Kursk region to support Russia.

Ukraine lost more than 40 percent of the territory occupied by Russia in the Kursk region during a surprise operation in August, Reuters reported, citing a senior source in the Ukrainian General Staff. According to him, this happened as a result of the counter-offensive of the Russian troops, who have made significant gains in the region in recent weeks.

According to a Reuters source, Russia has deployed about 59,000 troops in the Kursk region to stop Kiev's advance. In addition, according to the Ukrainian side, in October, about 11,000 North Korean soldiers arrived in the Kursk region to support Russia. However, most of them are completing training and have not yet started combat operations. Therefore, it cannot be said that the successes of the Russian military in the Kursk region are connected with the appearance of additional forces from the DPRK.

The operation of the armed forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region was a surprise for Moscow, because of which the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) managed to capture a large part of Russian territory, Reuters notes.

"At the height of the attack, we controlled an area of 1,376 square kilometers. Now this area has been significantly reduced, - said the source of the agency. "Now we have about 800 square kilometers and we will defend this area until it is militarily expedient."

Kiev planned to use the operations in the Kursk region for strategic purposes, such as distracting Russian forces from eastern Ukraine, slowing their advance and strengthening its position in possible peace talks. However, Russia continues to advance in the Donetsk region, significantly increasing its attacks on the border regions of Ukraine.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressed his confidence that the main goal of Vladimir Putin is to seize Donbass and expel Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region by January.

"It is important for Putin to expel us from the Kursk region by January 20," Zelensky said, referring to the date of Donald Trump's inauguration. "He wants to show that he is in control."

In recent months, Russian troops have been making significant progress in eastern Ukraine. In the Kurakhovo area of the Donetsk region, they are advancing 200-300 meters a day, which poses a great threat to Pokrovsk, which is an important logistics center.