Ukraine’s top military commander has confirmed that Ukrainian forces continue to hold a small area of territory inside Russia’s Kursk region nearly a year after launching a surprise incursion.
In August 2024, Ukraine launched an unexpected cross-border operation, capturing more than 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of Russian land in the Kursk region. Despite Russian claims of having fully retaken the area, Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky stated on Sunday that Ukrainian troops still control around 90 square kilometers (56 square miles) in the region.
Speaking to reporters, Syrsky pledged to escalate the “scale and depth” of strikes against Russian targets, emphasizing that Ukrainian forces are focused exclusively on military objectives. “Of course, we will continue,” he said. “Given that we are not fighting against the population, we are fighting and destroying purely military targets.”
Following the initial incursion, Ukrainian forces seized dozens of villages, creating a buffer zone that, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, has disrupted Russian deployments in critical front-line areas in eastern Ukraine. However, Kyiv’s advances have since stalled after Russia deployed reinforcements, including thousands of troops sent from its ally North Korea.
Recent months have seen Ukrainian forces retreat in Kursk amid a heavy Russian counteroffensive. Moscow has reportedly committed approximately 70,000 troops and increased drone attacks to regain control of the territory.
North Korea’s military involvement has been significant; last autumn, Pyongyang reportedly sent around 11,000 troops to support Russian forces in Kursk. Western intelligence sources revealed that over 1,000 North Korean troops were killed within three months of deployment. Earlier this month, North Korea announced plans to send additional personnel specializing in mine clearance and infrastructure repair to the region.
The ongoing conflict in Kursk highlights the increasing complexity and international dimension of the Ukraine-Russia war, as Kyiv holds on to a foothold inside Russian territory amid continued pressure.
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