He warns that Ukrainian troops have lost more than 40% of the territory won in the Russian Kursk region

soldiers of ukraine They lost more than 40% of the Russian Kursk region, which they had seized in a surprise raid in August. This followed sustained retaliatory attacks by Russia’s armed forces, according to a senior Ukrainian military source.

The source, who is part of the Ukrainian General Staff, said Russia had deployed about 59,000 troops in the Kursk region as Kiev’s forces swept into Moscow two and a half years after the massive offensive and rapidly advanced.

“More and more, We controlled an area of ​​approximately 1,376 square kilometersNow, of course, this area is small. The enemy is increasing its counter-attacks,” the source said. “We now control an area of ​​about 800 square kilometres. “We will hold this area as long as it is militarily expedient,” he said.

The Kursk Offensive was the first land attack on Russia by a foreign power since World War II and took Vladimir Putin’s government by surprise.

With the Kursk Offensive, Kiev’s goal was to halt Russian attacks in eastern and northeastern Ukraine, force Russia to withdraw slowly advancing forces in the east, and give Kiev greater influence in future peace negotiations.

However, Putin’s army They also continue to advance into the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk.

The Ukrainian General Staff source reiterated that about 11,000 North Korean troops had arrived in the Kursk area in support of Russia, but most of their forces were still completing their training.

The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request from the British news agency. reuters To comment on Kiev’s latest assessment of the situation at Kursk. reuters Was unable to independently verify the data or details provided.

Government officials and the Russian military leadership have neither confirmed nor denied the presence of North Korean forces in Kursk.

source of reuters General Staff said The Ukrainian Kurakhov region was now the biggest threat to Kiev, Since Russian forces there were advancing 200 to 300 meters per day and had managed to penetrate some areas with armored vehicles supported by anti-drone defenses. The city of Kurakhov is an important step towards the important logistics center of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he believes the Republicans have strong chances once the war ends in 2025 Donald Trump Is inaugurated as President of the United States in late January.

“It will be a difficult path, but I am confident that we have every chance to achieve it next year,” the Ukrainian president said at the Third International Grains Conference in Ukraine.

He clarified that the war “will end when Russia decides it wants to end it,” But even when the United States “takes a strong position” and “When the Global South comes out in favor of Ukraine and ending the conflict”.

(With information from Reuters and EFE)