Russian and North Korean forces "lost up to a battalion of infantry" over two days during clashes near the village of Makhnovka in the Kursk region on January 3 and 4, stated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In his address on Saturday, Zelensky reported that among the fallen soldiers were Russian paratroopers and troops from North Korea, whom the Kremlin had deployed in its military aggression against Ukraine at the end of last year. A battalion typically consists of 1,000 soldiers.
"The Commander-in-Chief also reported on the situation in the Kursk region. In particular, during the battles today and yesterday, in the vicinity of just one settlement - Makhnovka in the Kursk region - the Russian army lost up to a battalion of infantry, including North Korean soldiers and Russian paratroopers. And this is significant," Zelensky said.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine launched an unprecedented invasion into the Kursk region of Russia in early August and achieved initial success, capturing over 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory, marking the first invasion of Russia since World War II.
In the months following this offensive, Russia has been gathering its forces for a counteroffensive. Since the RF was caught off guard by the Ukrainian invasion, it has assembled over 50,000 military personnel in the region, including some from its ally - North Korea.
On Sunday, Russian military sources reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had begun an offensive using a significant amount of equipment in the Sudzha district of the Kursk region.
The head of the Ukrainian president's office, Andriy Yermak, stated: "Kursk region, good news, Russia is getting what it deserves." The Center for Counteracting Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked on several fronts.
According to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, on the morning of Sunday, January 5, the Armed Forces of Ukraine "attempted a counterattack to stop the advance of Russian troops in the Kursk direction." The agency claims that the assault group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine "was defeated."
The Associated Press, citing military observers, reports that as a result of the Russian counteroffensive, thousands of people were killed or wounded, and Ukrainian forces lost more than 40% of the territory in the Kursk region that they had captured in August.
Zelensky announced plans for a meeting with international allies on the upcoming Thursday at the American airbase Ramstein in Germany. According to him, the talks will focus on measures to strengthen Ukraine's air defense.
"Dozens of partner countries will participate, including those capable of enhancing our defense not only against missiles but also against guided bombs and Russian aircraft," Zelensky stated.