The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) managed to detain a 64,000-strong Russian military group on the Kursk direction, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced, quoted by Ukrinform and BTA.
"The Russians need steps, they really want to completely push us out of the Kursk region, but everyone understands and confirms that the Ukrainian forces there are not surrounded. We are in the territory of the Kursk region, and by the way, not only in the territory of the Kursk region. They have significant dates, especially next month, when they want to show some victorious steps, but for now we are in control of the situation. We are there and this is very important for us. We are keeping a large number of soldiers there - 64,000 Russians on the Kursk salient," the Ukrainian head of state said at a press conference.
He stressed that "this is a very serious group that could otherwise be deployed anywhere and attack the Ukrainian Armed Forces on other parts of the front." "The guys there are doing great. I awarded them yesterday. It was a great honor for me, admiration for them. They are doing great."
Zelensky again said that Russia does not want a ceasefire, and added that the number of Russian attacks along the entire front has increased.
Earlier, Pavlo Palisa, deputy head of the presidential administration, also said that the Kursk operation was successful and that it demonstrated the Ukrainian Armed Forces' ability to organize offensive operations. For its latest counteroffensive, Russia has sent all of its elite forces there, Ukrinform reports.
Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago, but Kiev responded by launching its own limited invasion of the Kursk region last August, DPA reports.
According to Agence France-Presse, Moscow's troops have managed to reduce the operational zone controlled by Ukraine in the Kursk sector from 400 sq km in August to just 80, which is 8% of the peak at the beginning of the Ukrainian offensive in Russia.
On March 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russian forces were "completely defeating" Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region, Reuters reports.