In a first-time disclosure, Ukraine’s top General, Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that Ukraine has captured 594 Russian servicemen during its operation in the Kursk region.
He added that Ukraine also captured 100 settlements during its three-week long incursion.
According to Syrskyi, Moscow’s troops were trying to counterattack in the area and encircle Kyiv’s forces, but those attempts were being repelled.
He said that one of the objectives of the Kursk operation was to divert Russian forces from other areas, primarily away from Pokrovsk and Kurakhove.
“The Kursk operation diverted a significant number of its forces,” he iterated, noting that Russian troops had been drawn from Ukraine’s south.
“As of now, we can say that around 30,000 servicemen have been sent to the Kursk front and this figure is growing.”
Oleksandr Syrskyi
General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the head of the Ukrainian armed forces, disclosed that Ukraine’s troops control nearly 1,300 square kilometres of Russia’s Kursk region.
“The enemy drags troops from other directions, in such way weakening them; They attempt to create a ring of defense around our offensive group of troops and plan counter-offensive actions,” Syrskyi said, speaking of the situation in the Kursk region.
Speaking about Pokrovsk, a coal mining city that has strategic military value as a transport hub that Russia has been advancing on recently, Syrskyi said that Russia was trying to disrupt Ukraine’s supply lines to the front.
“The enemy is trying to withdraw units from other directions. But it is increasing its efforts in the Pokrovsk sectors.
“The situation on the Pokrovsk front is fairly difficult … the enemy is using its advantage in personnel, weapons and military equipment, it is actively using artillery and aviation.”
Oleksandr Syrskyi
In recent months, Russian forces have been advancing.
They are now about 7 miles (11km) from Pokrovsk, a key Ukrainian army and transport hub, and are pressing on the town of Kurakhove.
IAEA Chief Warns Of Risk In Kursk Region
Also on Tuesday, Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that there was a risk of a “nuclear incident” at the Kursk nuclear power plant.
This came as he spoke with reporters after visiting Russia’s Kursk nuclear power plant.
Grossi said that the situation was serious.
“The danger or possibility of a nuclear accident has emerged near here,” Grossi told reporters, referring to the fact that fighting is taking place in the surrounding Kursk region.
The IAEA Head told the news conference that the plant was extremely fragile because it had no protective dome.
Moreso, Grossi stated that his tour enabled him to “look at the most important parts” of the plant, which is less than 30 miles from fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces.
“A nuclear power plant of this type so close to a point of contact or military front is an extremely serious fact,” Grossi said.
“The fact we have military activity a few kilometres, a few miles away from here, make it an immediate point of attention,” he added.
“At the end of the day, again, this may sound common sense and simple: Don’t attack a nuclear power plant.”
Rafael Grossi
He revealed that he was in “close contact” with Russian authorities and would visit Kyiv next week to talk to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, adding that it was “important to talk” and “keep dialogue.”
He added that the power plant currently was “operating in very close to normal conditions.”
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