Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine's recent military operations in Russia's Kursk region have led to approximately 6,000 casualties among Russian troops. This statement was made on September 6 during a meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
Since the start of the offensive on August 6, Ukrainian forces have gained control over a significant part of the Kursk region, covering more than 1,300 square kilometers and capturing around 100 settlements. Zelensky emphasized that these actions have helped eliminate the threat to the Ukrainian city of Sumy, which had been a concern earlier in the conflict.
In his speech, Zelensky drew comparisons to Russia's earlier offensive near Kharkiv in May, which had raised fears of a similar attack in Sumy. Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, had previously mentioned that Russia was planning a major operation from Kursk before Ukraine's forces moved to counter it.
Despite the losses in Kursk, Russia continues to deploy its most effective military units in Ukraine, particularly in the Donetsk region. Zelensky criticized Russian leadership, stating that "Putin is not concerned about Russian land or people; he only wants to seize more of our land and cities, even if they are left in ruins."
Zelensky also noted that Ukraine’s actions in Kursk demonstrate that Russia's "red lines" are no longer effective. He revealed that Ukraine did not inform its allies of the planned operation in Kursk, fearing it might be viewed as a violation of Russia's boundaries. However, the notion of these red lines has since "crumbled near Sudzha," according to the Ukrainian president.
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