Kiev lost nearly 7,000 troops in an attempt to advance deep into Russian territory , according to Moscow's latest statistics - RT reported.
According to the latest data released by the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Ukrainian army's incursion into Russia's Kursk province came at a heavy price, with Kiev forces suffering 6,600 casualties and losing 73 tanks in the cross-border attack. .
Ukrainian forces invaded Kursk province on August 6, in the largest attack on Russian territory since the start of hostilities in February 2022. The advance was quickly stopped by Russian troops, but fighting in the area continued and Ukrainian troops still held several residential areas on the border.
On August 27, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that in three weeks since the attack began, Ukraine lost more than 6,600 soldiers, 73 tanks , 34 infantry fighting vehicles, 62 armored personnel carriers, 432 combat vehicles. armored fighting vehicles and 201 other motor vehicles.
Russian forces also destroyed 45 artillery pieces and 13 multiple launch missile systems, including 4 HIMARS launchers provided by the US.
Over the past three weeks, Moscow has released videos of its forces destroying Ukrainian tanks, weapons and personnel involved in the attack.
It is unclear how many troops the Ukrainian military sent to Kursk, although US media earlier this month claimed that up to 10,000 soldiers had been mobilized from other sectors of the front to take part in the offensive. .
In a report dated August 27, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that Moscow's forces fought with units of Ukraine's 22nd, 61st and 115th mechanized brigades, 80th and 82nd air attack brigades as well as like the 1004th security and service brigade in the previous 24 hours.
According to Western military analysts, in the Ukrainian armed forces, a brigade usually consists of between 1,000 and 8,000 people, although severe attrition has caused some Ukrainian brigades since April to only operate. moves at 10% of pre-conflict strength.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initially said seizing Russian territory was necessary to intimidate the Russian public and gain a stronger position in eventual peace talks with Moscow.
The message later changed when President Zelensky declared that the purpose of the incursion was to create a buffer zone inside Russian territory and prevent Moscow from ordering an attack on Ukraine's Sumy province, which borders Kursk.
During a press conference on August 27, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Aleksandr Syrsky, said the attack was intended to force Russia to move troops from two key points along the front line in Donbass . However, Mr. Syrsky admitted that Moscow saw through Kiev's plans and instead "strengthened efforts" in these areas.
