Kiev lost nearly 7,000 soldiers in its attempt to penetrate deeper into Russian territory, according to the latest Moscow statistics - RT reported.
According to the latest figures released by the Russian Defense Ministry, the encroachment of the Ukrainian army into Russia's Kursk region cost a lot, Kiev suffered 6,600 casualties and lost 73 tanks in the cross-border attack.
Ukrainian forces attacked Kursk Oblast on August 6, in their largest attack on Russian territory since the war began in February 2022. The offensive was quickly blocked by the Russian army, but fighting in the area continued and the Ukrainian army still occupied some residential areas on the border.
On August 27, the Russian Defense Ministry said that in the three weeks since the attack began, Ukraine had lost more than 6,600 soldiers, 73 tanks, 34 infantry fighting vehicles, 62 armored personnel carriers, 432 armored fighting vehicles and 201 other motor vehicles.
Russian forces also destroyed 45 artillery pieces and 13 multiple launch rocket systems, including four HIMARS launchers provided by the US.
In the past three weeks, Moscow has published videos of its forces destroying Ukrainian tanks, weapons and personnel related to the attack.
It is unclear how many Ukrainian troops will be sent to Kursk, although US media earlier this month claimed that up to 10,000 soldiers had been mobilized from other areas of the front to participate in the attack.
In a report on August 27, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Moscow's forces had fought with units of Ukraine's 22, 61 and 115 mechanized brigades, the 80 and 82 air attack brigades, and the 1004 security and service Brigade in the previous 24 hours.
According to Western military analysts, a Brigade typically includes between 1,000 and 8,000 men in the Ukrainian armed forces, although severe depletion has caused some Ukrainian Brigades to operate at only 10% of their pre-conflict strength since April.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initially said the occupation of Russian territory was necessary to threaten the Russian public and gain a stronger position in the final peace talks with Moscow.
The message was later changed when President Zelensky said the purpose of the incursion was to create a buffer zone within Russia and prevent Moscow from launching an attack on Ukraine's Sumy region, bordering Kursk.
At a press conference on August 27, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Aleksandr Syrsky, said the attack was aimed at forcing Russia to shift troops from two key points along the front line in Donbass. However, Syrsky admitted that Moscow had seen through Kiev's plans and instead "increased efforts" in these areas.
