Putin declares complete liberation of Kursk Region

(MENAFN) Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that Ukrainian forces have been fully pushed out of the Kursk Region, following prolonged and intense fighting that began in August of the previous year. The announcement came during a military briefing with General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff.

Putin highlighted that the Ukrainian offensive, which aimed to destabilize Russian operations elsewhere, had been decisively defeated, with Ukraine sustaining significant personnel and equipment losses. Gerasimov reported that the final Ukrainian-held village, Gornal—located just one kilometer from the border—was recaptured on Saturday, marking the conclusion of the military operation.

The Russian defense successfully halted the initial Ukrainian advance and eventually forced Ukrainian troops into a defensive stance. Strategic counterattacks by Russian forces, including a bold operation via an underground pipeline near Sudzha in March, dismantled Ukraine’s spearhead units and led to a rapid Russian resurgence.

According to Gerasimov, Ukrainian casualties exceeded 76,000, with over 7,700 pieces of military equipment destroyed, including hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles. Putin emphasized that many of these losses involved elite, Western-trained Ukrainian forces, a setback that would impact Ukraine's overall combat capability.

In a notable development, Gerasimov confirmed that North Korean troops participated in the defense of Kursk under a strategic alliance signed last year. He praised their bravery and skill on the battlefield, citing their contribution as instrumental to the success of the operation.

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