“Ukraine already lost 40 percent of conquered territory in Kursk”
Of the territory Ukraine captured in a surprise attack in Russia's Kursk oblast in August, it has already lost 40 percent again. An army source told the Reuters news agency.
“At the maximum, we had control of 1,376 square kilometers of territory. Today, it is still about 800 square kilometers.” Kiev wants to keep control of the area “as long as it is militarily appropriate.” But so that is proving increasingly difficult because of Russian offensives.
For the past two weeks, Russia has been counting mainly on North Korean soldiers to take back control of the area.
With the advance into Kursk, Zelensky's forces wanted to divert Russian attention from the fronts in eastern and northeastern Ukraine. Occupying Russian territory would also give Kiev a better position in possible peace negotiations. But now that it is again incrementally losing that territory, Zelensky will not have as many assets at his disposal should it ever come to peace negotiations, whether led by Donald Trump or not.
(SR for Tagtik/Source: Reuters/Illustration picture: Military Material for Pixabay)