Russia’s Heavy Toll: 594 Soldiers Captured in Kursk as Ukraine Gains Ground

Since the start of the operation to invade Russia’s Kursk province, Ukrainian forces have captured 594 enemy soldiers and taken control of more than 100 settlements, or about 1,294 square kilometers.

Early on August 6, Ukrainian soldiers and armored vehicles from Sumy province crossed the border and raided the Kursk region of Russia (Photo: Reuters).

“As of today, we have taken control of 1,294 square meters of territory, which is equivalent to 100 settlements… We have also significantly replenished the exchange fund of 594 soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces who were captured on this front,” the newspaper said. Pravda Ukraine’s Ministry of National Defense on August 27 quoted the statement of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi at the Forum of Heads of State.

General Syrskyi reiterated that one of the goals of the Kursk operation was to divert significant Russian forces from other fronts, especially from Pokrovsk and Kurakhove.

However, he also stressed that the Russian side is trying to withdraw units from other fronts but is increasing their efforts on the Pokrovsk front.

“At present, we can state that about 30,000 Russian soldiers have been redeployed to the Kursk front and this number is growing,” he added.

The operation in Kursk province began on August 6, and by August 10, President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that Ukraine had brought the war to Russian territory.

In a statement on August 26, Russia said it had recaptured more Ukrainian-controlled territory in Kursk and inflicted heavy losses on Kiev there. The Russian Defense Ministry also said that Ukrainian forces had lost more than 6,200 servicemen and 73 tanks since the start of the operation in the Kursk region.