**Russia Suffers Heavy Losses in Ukraine’s Kursk Incursion, Military Chief Says**
The city of Moscow has been severely impacted by the Ukraine-Russia conflict, with reports emerging that 80,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured during a cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast. According to Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, who spoke to The Washington Post in an interview published on July 23, Russia’s losses were significantly greater than Ukraine’s.
Syrskyi refused to disclose the number of Ukrainian casualties during the operation, but claimed that the Russian military suffered immense losses. However, these claims have not been independently verified by other news sources.
**Background: A Surprise Offensive**
In August 2024, Ukraine launched an unprecedented offensive into Russian territory in Kursk Oblast, catching Moscow off guard and seizing a significant amount of land in the first few months. The operation was designed to divert Russian troops from the front in eastern Ukraine and disrupt Russia’s plans to invade Sumy Oblast, a northeastern region bordering Kursk Oblast.
**The Counter-Offensive**
Backed by around 12,000 North Korean troops, Russia launched a counter-offensive this spring, pushing Ukraine out of most of the Russian territory they had seized. Ukrainian forces are now holding onto a small strip of Russian land on the border in Kursk Oblast, and Kyiv has repeatedly rejected Moscow’s claims that hostilities have ended.
**Strategic Success or Failure?**
While experts praise the initial tactical success of the operation, they remain divided regarding its strategic usefulness. Critics argue that the incursion failed to halt Russian advances in Donetsk Oblast and should have been ended sooner before it turned into a prolonged and costly battle.
**Russia’s Heavy Losses**
In April, shortly after Russia announced it had recaptured nearly all of its territory in Kursk Oblast, the Ukrainian military put Russian losses at 25,200 killed and 36,200 injured. North Korea is also believed to have suffered up to 6,000 casualties, half of its entire contingent in the region.
**Ongoing Conflict**
The conflict continues to escalate, with Moscow’s forces launching a fresh offensive in May. Russian troops are attempting to establish a beachhead in Sumy Oblast and penetrate Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in central-eastern Ukraine for the first time. Kyiv remains committed to resisting Russian aggression, but faces significant challenges from Russia’s advantage in manpower and resources.
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