The loss of 40% of the territory captured in the Kursk region was reported by a source in the Ukrainian General Staff to Reuters. Initially, Ukrainian forces controlled about 1376 sq. kilometers, now about 800 sq. kilometers. He also added that Russia has deployed about 59,000 military personnel to the Kursk region, among them 11,000 North Korean military personnel.
The Kursk offensive became the first ground invasion of a foreign power into Russia since World War II and caught Moscow by surprise. By advancing on Kursk, Kyiv sought to stop Russian attacks in the east and northeast of Ukraine, force Russia to withdraw troops gradually advancing eastward, and give Kyiv additional leverage in future peace negotiations.
However, Russian troops continue to steadily advance in the eastern part of Ukraine's Donetsk region.
According to a source in the General Staff, the Kurakhovo area poses the greatest threat to Kyiv, as Russian troops are advancing there at a speed of 200-300 meters per day, and in some areas, they have managed to break through with the help of armored vehicles supported by drone protection means.
According to a source in the Ukrainian General Staff, about 575,000 Russian military personnel are currently fighting in Ukraine, and Russia intends to increase its forces to approximately 690,000.
Last week, Ukraine launched American ATACMS and British Storm Shadow against Russia. One of the targets of ATACMS was a weapons depot located about 110 km deep into Russian territory.
On Thursday, Russia launched a new medium-range ballistic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, and the Kremlin announced that such attacks would continue, also threatening military facilities in Western countries that provided weapons to Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials are negotiating with the United States and the United Kingdom for new air defense systems capable of protecting Ukrainian cities and the civilian population from new long-range air threats.