Senior Military Says Ukraine Has Lost More Than 40 Percent Of The Land It Has Rebutted In Russia's Kursk

Russian/DOK Armymen Alexander Reka/TASS

JAKARTA - Ukraine has lost more than 40 percent of the territory in Russia's Kursk which was seized in a surprise attack in August as Russian forces launched a wave of retaliatory attacks.

This was conveyed by a senior Ukrainian military source quoted from Reuters on Sunday, November 24. Sources at the Ukrainian General Staff added that Russia had deployed 59,000 troops to the Kursk region since Kyiv forces entered and advanced rapidly made Moscow unprepared for two and a half years in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"At most, we control about 1,376 square kilometers (531 square miles), now of course this area is smaller. The enemy increases its counter-attack," the source said.

"Now we control about 800 square kilometers (309 square miles). We will maintain this area as long as it is militaryly appropriate."

With a push to Kursk, Kyiv aims to stem Russia's attacks on eastern and northeastern Ukraine, forcing Russia to withdraw troops gradually advancing east and exerting extra influence to Kyiv in future peace negotiations.

But Russian troops are still moving forward in the Donetsk region east of Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he believed the main goal of Russian President Vladimir Putin was to occupy the entire Donbas, which consisted of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and expel Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region.

"For Putin, the most important thing is to push us out of the Kursk area. I'm sure he wants to push us out on January 20," Zelenskiy told the media, referring to when Donald Trump would be sworn in as US president.

"It is very important for him (Putin) to show that he is in control of the situation."

Sources at Ukrainian General Staff sources reiterated that about 11,000 North Korean troops had arrived in the Kursk region to support Russia, but most of their troops were still completing their training.

Russia's Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Reuters was unable to independently verify the figures or description provided.

Moscow, which occupies about a fifth of Ukraine's territory, has yet to confirm or deny the presence of North Korean troops in the Kursk region.

Russia's Progress In Eastern Ukraine

General Staff sources say the Kurrakhove region is the most threatening for Kyiv now that Russian forces advanced there at a speed of 200-300 meters (yard) a day and managed to break through in some areas.

The city of Kurakhove is a stepping stone to Pokrovsk's logistics center in the Donetsk region. Russia has about 575,000 troops fighting in Ukraine now, the source said, and aims to increase its troops to around 690,000.

Russia did not disclose the number involved in its fighting. Reuters was unable to verify those figures.

Ukraine has sought to disrupt Russian logistics and supply chains by attacking Russian arsenals and ammunition, airfields, and other military targets within Russia.

After US President Joe Biden allowed Kyiv to fire US-suppressed missiles at targets deep inside Russia, Ukraine last week fired US ATACM and British Storm Shadow cruise missiles at Russia.

On Thursday, Russia launched a new medium-range ballistic missile into the city of Dnipro, Ukraine, in a possible warning to NATO.

Ukrainian officials held talks with the United States and Britain about a new air defense system capable of protecting Ukrainian cities and civilians from the new long-range air threats.

Ukrainian General Staff sources said the military had implemented measures to increase air defenses over Kyiv and planned similar measures for Sumy in the north and Kharkiv in the northeast.