Wed Nov 13 04:50:00 UTC 2024: ## Ukraine Claims Control Over 50,000 Russian Troops in Kursk Region
**KYIV, UKRAINE -** Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that his forces have secured control over 50,000 Russian troops in the Kursk region of Russia, significantly hindering their ability to attack Ukraine.
Zelensky, in his daily address to the nation, emphasized this operation as a key strategy to weaken Moscow’s offensive capabilities. The incursion into Russia, launched in early August, has been met with skepticism from some Western allies.
While the Institute for the Study of War reported only 11,000 Russian troops in Kursk initially, a report in the New York Times suggests that Russia has managed to bolster its forces in the region without withdrawing troops from Ukraine. The Times further reports that North Korean troops are also being deployed in Kursk, potentially for an imminent Russian counteroffensive.
Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyy, who inspected Ukrainian units deployed in Kursk, confirmed the operation’s success. “Our men are holding back… 50,000 of the occupier’s army personnel who, due to the Kursk operation, cannot be deployed to other Russian offensive directions on our territory,” Zelensky stated.
Syrskyy added that without the Ukrainian presence in Kursk, tens of thousands of elite Russian assault units would have been attacking Ukrainian positions in the Donetsk region, a key battleground since the conflict began.
Meanwhile, fighting continues in Donetsk, where both sides accuse each other of damaging a dam near Kurakhove. Russia has been slowly advancing in the region towards Pokrovsk, a vital supply hub for Ukrainian forces.
The New York Times, citing unnamed US and Ukrainian officials, estimates that the combined Russian and North Korean troops being prepared for the counteroffensive in Kursk number 50,000. A new US assessment suggests Russia has amassed these forces without needing to withdraw soldiers from eastern Ukraine, enabling them to operate on multiple fronts simultaneously.
Both Ukraine and the US claim over 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia. While Moscow neither confirms nor denies the presence of North Korean troops, North Korean leader Kim Jong un ratified a mutual defense treaty with Russia, further solidifying their alliance.
The US has repeatedly accused Pyongyang of supplying military hardware to Russia, including ballistic missiles and launchers, while NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte suggests Pyongyang is receiving military technology and support from Moscow in return.
Amidst speculation surrounding Donald Trump’s re-election victory and his alleged phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin has denied any such conversation.
The BBC reports that Ukrainian refugees are moving into temporary housing developments, sparking local criticism. Both Ukraine and Russia claim to have shot down numerous drones over their respective territories.
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