Russian forces repel new Ukrainian attack in Kursk – MOD

Kiev has lost up to 400 servicemen over the past 24 hours amid its ongoing incursion, according to Moscow.

Russia continues to repel Kiev’s ongoing attacks on settlements in Kursk Region as Ukrainian Armed Forces suffer heavy casualties, the Defense Ministry reported in an update on Friday.

In a message posted on its official Telegram channel, the ministry stated that Russian units of the North group of forces, with the support of aviation and artillery, have successfully repelled attacks by enemy assault groups near the settlements of Borki and Malaya Loknya, and have also thwarted attacks in the directions of Komarovka, Korenevo, Martynovka and Russkaya Konopelka.

Kiev’s forces lost up to 70 servicemen as well as two combat armored vehicles and one car during the operation, Moscow reported.

Meanwhile, reconnaissance and search units continue to identify and destroy Ukrainian sabotage groups hiding in thick forests as they try to penetrate deeper into Russian territory, with one such group being reportedly neutralized near the settlement of Kamyshevka, the ministry said.

The Russian military also continues to pressure enemy forces using airstrikes and artillery, and has targeted several Ukrainian brigades across the region. Over the past 24 hours, Kiev has lost an estimated 400 servicemen, 17 armored vehicles, including one tank, two armored personnel carriers, 14 armored combat vehicles, two pieces of artillery, and MLRS launcher, two mortars and ten vehicles, the ministry claimed.

Overall, since launching its cross-border assault earlier this month, which reportedly involved some of Kiev’s best-equipped and most experienced fighters, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost some 5,137 soldiers, 69 tanks, 27 infantry fighting vehicles, 55 APCs, 350 armored combat vehicles, 34 artillery units, five anti-aircraft missile systems, 11 MLRS launchers, including three US-made HIMARS, among other pieces of heavy equipment, Moscow estimates.

Kiev officials have stated that the purpose of the brazen offensive was to try to seize Russian territory in Kursk Region in order to alleviate the pressure that has been on its forces elsewhere on the front line, and to strengthen Ukraine’s position during eventual peace talks with Moscow.

Moscow had previously offered Kiev a ceasefire in exchange for renouncing its NATO membership bid and withdrawing from Russian territories. The Kremlin has taken this deal off the table following Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk Region and its “indiscriminate” targeting of Russian civilians.