Operation continues: General Staff refutes Russia’s claims about end of fighting in Kursk region

"Statements by representatives of the aggressor state about the alleged end of hostilities on the territory of the Kursk region of the Russian Federation do not reflect the real situation," the report says.

The General Staff noted that the operation of the Defense Forces units in designated directions in the border areas of the Kursk region continues. Although conditions remain difficult, Ukrainian defenders hold their positions, carry out assigned tasks, and inflict effective damage on the enemy.

Since the beginning of the operation in the Kursk direction, the enemy has lost a total of 63,402 military personnel, including 25,625 killed. A total of 971 enemy soldiers have been taken prisoner. Additionally, 5,664 units of enemy weapons and military equipment have been destroyed or damaged.

The General Staff added that Ukrainian units also continue active operations in designated areas of Russia’s Belgorod region.

Fighting in the Kursk region

The Defense Forces launched an offensive operation in the Kursk region on August 6, 2024. For the first time in 11 years of war, hostilities were brought onto Russian territory.

At the peak of the operation, the Defense Forces controlled up to 1,300 square kilometers of territory in the Kursk region, but Russian forces launched a counteroffensive. Russia deployed around 12,000 North Korean military personnel to the fighting.

According to the General Staff, since the beginning of the Kursk operation, the enemy has lost over 63,000 military personnel killed and wounded. Among them, about 4,000 were citizens of North Korea.

At the end of April 2025, Russia claimed to have "liberated" the Kursk region. However, Ukrainian forces refuted this information.