Kursk Operation: A Turning Point in Ukraine’s Defense
Ukraine’s military has reported significant achievements in its ongoing operation in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, which commenced in August 2024. Over the past six months, Ukrainian forces have captured 909 Russian soldiers and inflicted nearly 40,000 Russian casualties, including over 16,000 fatalities.
The primary objective of this cross-border operation was to secure Russian prisoners for exchange, thereby facilitating the return of Ukrainian soldiers held in Russian captivity. The successful capture of these Russian servicemen has substantially bolstered Ukraine’s prisoner exchange pool, enabling the repatriation of hundreds of Ukrainian defenders.
The Ukrainian General Staff has highlighted the operation as a model of “sudden, asymmetric, and successful actions,” demonstrating the capability to inflict significant losses on a superior enemy and seize battlefield initiative.