Ukraine has lost over 40 percent of the territory it captured in Russia’s Kursk region during a surprise August offensive, according to a senior Ukrainian military official. Russian forces have deployed 59,000 troops to reclaim the area, mounting sustained counter-attacks that have steadily pushed Ukrainian forces back.

During the offensive, Ukrainian troops initially captured approximately 1,376 square kilometers (531 square miles) of Russian territory, catching Moscow off guard. However, as Russian reinforcements arrived, Ukraine’s ability to hold the territory diminished. A Ukrainian General Staff official confirmed that continued Russian counter-attacks have significantly reduced the area under Ukrainian control.

The operation in Kursk marked a rare advance by Ukrainian forces onto Russian soil, intended to disrupt logistics and divert Moscow’s resources from other battlefronts. However, Ukraine has struggled to sustain its position due to being outnumbered and outgunned. Military observers noted that these losses were anticipated given the disparity in resources between the two sides.