Ukrainian President Zelensky Claims Nearly 15,000 Russian Soldiers Killed In Kursk

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday Russia suffered heavy losses in the five months of fighting against Ukrainian troops in the southern Russian Kursk region, with nearly 15,000 people killed.

"During the Kursk operation, the enemy has lost 38,000 of their troops in this region alone, with nearly 15,000 of these losses irreversible," President Zelensky said in a late-night video address.

President Zelensky, in his remarks, did not provide any evidence regarding the figures he quoted regarding Russia's losses.

Ukraine launched a mass attack on Kursk's territory in August and has seized parts of the territory, although the Russian military says it has reclaimed large parts of the region.

Most recently, Kyiv said it was launching another attack on the region on Sunday, but did not provide many details.

Meanwhile, Ukraine and Western assessments say about 11,000 North Korean troops are fighting alongside Russian troops in the region. Russia does not justify or deny their presence.

Separately, Russia's Defense Ministry said on Monday Ukraine's forward movement had been thwarted and key troops had been demolished near the Berdin settlement, close to a road that stretches northeast towards the city of Kursk.

The ministry also said Russian forces had made important profits in eastern Ukraine, including capturing the city of Kurakhove.

President Zelensky did not mention Kurakhove in his statement.

President Zelensky added that Ukrainian troops had built a buffer zone in the Kursk region, where Russia moved strong military units, and this had prevented Moscow from deploying the troops to the main frontline region in eastern Ukraine.

"What is important is that the invaders now cannot direct all of these forces in other directions, especially to the Donetsk, Sumy, Kharkiv or Zaporizhia regions," he concluded.