Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the Valdai Forum, provided grim details on Ukraine's losses since its August incursion into Russia's Kursk Oblast.
He claimed that Ukraine had suffered over 30,000 casualties in just three months of fighting, surpassing its total casualties from the previous year. Putin described this as a "terrible price" for Ukraine, attributing the military operation to political pressures imposed by Western powers, particularly the United States.
Putin argued that the decision to launch the offensive into Kursk made little military sense and was driven by external political motives. He stated that Ukrainian forces were ordered to hold their ground in Kursk at all costs, partly to show the West that its support for Ukraine had not been in vain. He stressed that this was a tragedy for both the Ukrainian people and its military, who were enduring heavy losses for political reasons.
The toll on Ukraine has been not only in terms of human casualties but also equipment. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Ukraine had lost 184 tanks, over 100 infantry fighting vehicles and more than 1,000 other armored vehicles. Additionally, Ukrainian forces lost 26 military engineering vehicles in the fighting. Despite these significant losses, Ukrainian officials continue to assert that their offensive has slowed Russian progress along the eastern front. (Related: Bad news for Kyiv: Elite Ukrainian troops SURRENDER to Russians in Kursk.)
While Ukrainian officials claimed their efforts had delayed Russia's advance, independent reports suggested that Russian forces made more territorial gains in October than in any other month this year.
Russia's strategy seems to be to push Ukraine out of the Kursk region while continuing its slow but steady territorial expansion in the Donbas region.
Russia massively outnumbers Ukrainian troops in Kursk
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Russian forces in Kursk significantly outnumber Ukrainian troops. He estimated that nearly 50,000 Russian soldiers are operating in the region and pledged to reinforce Ukrainian defenses along the most active fronts, particularly around Pokrovsk and Kurakhove. Zelensky also highlighted the ongoing slow encroachment by Russian forces into Ukrainian territory.
The situation in Kursk remains dire. Russia has since mounted a successful counteroffensive and is regaining ground in most theaters of the conflict, particularly in the Donbas region, where its forces are capturing village after village. Russia's goal remains the full capture of this industrial region.
Recent reports have also pointed to the involvement of North Korean soldiers in the conflict. According to multiple sources, North Korea has sent troops to Russia to support its military efforts against Ukraine, a claim that Moscow has neither confirmed nor denied. This highlights the increasing international dimension of the war, as Russia deepens its ties with North Korea through a new strategic partnership.
The human toll continues to climb. Recent Russian artillery strikes in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region killed two people and injured at least 19 others. Additionally, a missile strike on the city of Kryvyi Rih wounded 14 people, including two children. Russian forces have also targeted a dam in Donetsk, which could lead to flooding in nearby villages.
Ukrainian officials are also bracing for new Russian ground assaults on the Zaporizhia region, with military spokespersons warning that attacks could begin at any time. The region, already under heavy pressure from Russian forces, could face further strain as both sides prepare for intensified fighting in the coming weeks.
Watch this conversation between "Dialogue Works" host Nima Alkhorshid and former U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter discussing how Ukraine is very close to admitting defeat.
This video is from the What Is Happening channel on Brighteon.com.
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