The Armed Forces of Ukraine have been conducting an operation in Kursk region for five months now, which is forcing the Russians to transfer significant forces to this direction, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports.

According to the General Staff, in the five months since the beginning of the Kursk operation, the enemy's total losses in this direction amounted to more than 38,000, of which about 15,000 were killed.

They also reported that the operation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine began on August 6, 2024 and became the next stage of countering Russian aggression. For the first time in 11 years of war, hostilities were transferred to the territory of the Russian Federation.

It is reported that the main goal of the operation was to prevent the enemy's advance in Sumy region and create a "buffer zone." It also forced the Russian occupiers to transfer significant resources to Kursk region, weakening their positions in other areas of the front.

"Russia was forced to urgently ask North Korea for help, which sent almost 12,000 of its soldiers to the Russian Federation. About 4,000 of them have already been eliminated, and some units have lost combat capability," the General Staff noted.

Ukrainian fighters destroyed, in particular, 104 tanks, 575 armored combat vehicles, 1,104 vehicles, 330 artillery systems, 12 MLRS, 12 air defense systems, one aircraft, three helicopters, 859 drones, and 32 units of special equipment.

"During the operation, Ukrainian forces captured 860 Russian soldiers, significantly replenishing the exchange fund. This allowed hundreds of Ukrainian defenders who were in Russian prisons to return home," the General Staff emphasized.