Nearly three months into Ukraine’s incursion in the Russian Kursk region, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has reported significant Russian casualties.
As of November 5, the operation has resulted in 20,842 Russian casualties. This number includes 7,905 killed, 12,220 wounded, and 717 taken prisoner.
In addition, Ukrainian forces destroyed over 1,100 pieces of Russian weaponry and military equipment, including 54 tanks, 276 armored vehicles, and 107 artillery systems.
This news was published by Syrskyi on Facebook.
Background of the Kursk Operation
Ukraine launched the cross-border operation in early August with the dual aims of disrupting Russian strikes across the border and diverting Russian forces from northern Ukraine.
According to Syrskyi, Ukrainian intelligence in May confirmed that Russia intended to launch an offensive from the Kursk region into Sumy, aiming to create a “buffer zone” within northern Ukraine.
In response, Ukraine initiated preemptive combat in the Kursk region to create its own buffer zone within Russian territory.
The operation has been Ukraine’s most notable cross-border incursion since the full-scale invasion, intensifying Russia’s losses and keeping Russian forces engaged on their own soil.
Ukrainian forces established a defensive buffer, preventing an immediate Russian advance and reshaping the regional military landscape.
