Army chief makes new statement about Ukraine's Forces in Russia's Kursk region
Photo: Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi (facebook.com/MinistryofDefence_UA)
Active combat is ongoing in the area of Sudzha and the surrounding territories of the Kursk region. The enemy is deploying assault units of airborne forces and special operations forces to break through the defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi.
According to Syrskyi, Russian forces are attempting to push Ukrainian troops out of the Kursk region and shift combat operations into the Sumy and Kharkiv regions.
He stated that the enemy had already suffered significant losses.
"Since the start of the Kursk operation (on August 6, 2024), total Russian troop losses have exceeded 54,900 personnel. Irrecoverable losses are over 22,200, sanitary losses amount to 31,800, and 942 soldiers have been taken prisoner," he said.
Additionally, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have destroyed or disabled more than 2,100 pieces of Russian equipment, including 90 tanks, 654 armored combat vehicles, two air defense systems, aircraft, helicopters, and nearly 1,500 drones.
Russian aviation continues striking its own territory. "As a result of airstrikes on the city of Sudzha, this settlement is almost completely destroyed," Syrskyi reported.
He emphasized that preserving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers remains a priority, so units maneuver to more advantageous positions when necessary.
As of 06:00 PM Kyiv time on March 11, Ukrainian forces have repelled eight assaults by Russian-North Korean units.
"We will hold the defense in the Kursk region as long as it is reasonable and necessary," the commander assured.
Operation in Kursk region
Since early August 2024, the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) have been conducting an operation in the Kursk region. The goal was to weaken the enemy's combat capabilities and force it to redirect resources toward defending its own territory. By late summer, Ukrainian troops reportedly controlled 100 settlements in the region.
However, recent reports suggest that the situation for the UAF in the Kursk region has begun to deteriorate. Russian forces have allegedly advanced northwest of Sudzha. According to media sources, after the US halted intelligence-sharing, Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region reportedly faced the risk of encirclement. This, in turn, has made it more difficult to predict attacks and coordinate defense efforts.
Today, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian forces are carrying out their assigned tasks in the Kursk region, with military command coordinating operations while prioritizing the safety of personnel.
Interestingly, Russian media today began publishing videos of Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming he arrived in the Kursk region for a briefing.
Read more about the situation in the Kursk region in RBC-Ukraine’s report.
