Russia recaptures 40% of territory in Kursk region, advances in east of Ukraine
- 23 November, 08:05
Over 1,000 days into the war, Russia is swiftly gaining ground in its border Kursk region and eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian military reported on Saturday that Russia has re-captured around 40% of its lands captured by Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region in the past three months. A source within the General Staff of the Armed Forces said the Kyiv-held territory is shrinking in Kursk where Ukrainian troops launched a surprise incursion and seized lands in early August.
“At most, we controlled about 1,376 square kilometres, now of course this territory is smaller. The enemy is increasing its counterattacks… Now we control approximately 800 square kilometers. We will hold this territory for as long as is militarily appropriate,” source within the General Staff said.
In another development, Russian soldiers captured the settlement of Novodmytrivka north of the Kurakhove town in Donetsk region in Moscow’s latest gain in eastern Ukraine. Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov described the attack as an accelerated advance. There have been no Ukrainian reports about the capture of the settlement. However, the Ukrainian military on Saturday reported an overnight fighting in eight villages, including in Novodmytrivka.
It should be noted that Kursk offensive was the first case of large-scale incursion in Russia’s territory since the end of World War II. The incursion into Kursk was aimed at slowing Russia’s advances in eastern Donbass and gaining leverage in negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy earlier described Kursk as a “buffer zone” to stop Russian attacks. Ukraine’s General Staff claim that Russia has deployed 59,000 troops, including those from North Korea to the Kursk region since Ukraine’s incursion.
