NEWS
NEWS

Zelenski Claims Russia Has Lost Nearly 15,000 Soldiers in the Kursk Region

Updated

Ukraine shoots down 28 out of 38 drones launched overnight

A Ukrainian soldier gestures as he fires toward Russian position.
A Ukrainian soldier gestures as he fires toward Russian position.AP

Five months after Ukraine launched a massive incursion into the border region of Kursk, Volodymyr Zelenski has stated that Russia has suffered significant losses there, estimating nearly 15,000 soldiers killed.

"Today marks exactly five months since the start of our actions in the Kursk region, and we continue to maintain a buffer zone in Russian territory, actively destroying their military potential there. During this operation, the enemy has lost over 38,000 soldiers, with approximately 15,000 irrecoverable casualties," stated the Ukrainian president in his nighttime address.

Zelenski claims that Russia has deployed "its strongest units in Kursk, including soldiers from North Korea," without specifying if some of the casualties come from this country.

Meanwhile, Russia claimed on Monday the conquest of the mining city of Kurajove, in eastern Ukraine, after a battle of nearly three months, stating that this victory will allow them to take control of the rest of the Donetsk region "at an accelerated pace." However, Kiev's forces claim that combat is still ongoing in the area.

Transnistria Doubles Power Outages Amid Severe Energy Crisis

Transnistria authorities double power outages in the separatist Moldovan region, facing a severe energy crisis since the halt of Russian gas transit through Ukraine.

Starting this Tuesday, power cuts will be extended to eight hours split into two four-hour stops, as reported by the Transnistrian government on their Telegram channel. "There is no one to blame in Transnistria for this situation. It's all an external factor," explained Vadim Krasnoselski, Transnistrian leader, in a television message last night, as reported by Efe.

Due to this situation, school holidays will be extended until January 20, while kindergartens will cease afternoon operations.

Local authorities acknowledge that thousands of homes in the territory inhabited by less than half a million people are without access to electricity, gas, or hot water.

Due to the reduced supply, separatist authorities were forced to suspend all business activities at the beginning of the year, except for the food industry.

Zelenski's Popularity Declines, According to a Poll

Most Ukrainians continue to support President Volodymyr Zelenski in his actions after nearly three years of war, but this figure will sharply decline in 2024, according to a survey released on Tuesday by a specialized institute in Kiev, as reported by Afp.

The International Institute of Sociology of Kiev (KIIS) conducted a phone survey with 2,000 people living in Ukrainian-controlled territory between December 2 and 17, approximately a month after Trump's victory in the U.S. elections, which sparked speculation about possible peace talks with Moscow.

According to the results, by the end of 2024, 52% of the surveyed Ukrainians claimed to "trust" Zelenski, a figure that had sharply dropped from late 2023 (77%), reflecting a loss of support for the Ukrainian president after nearly three years of war.

Russia Says Troops Improve Positions and Repel Ukrainian Attacks

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that their central, western, and eastern troop formations had repelled Ukrainian counterattacks in the last 24 hours and improved their positions, according to Reuters. The ministry stated that Russian forces had shot down six HIMARS missiles supplied by the United States and 50 Ukrainian drones.

Putin Attends Christmas Mass with War Veterans in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the Orthodox Christmas Mass last night at a church in Victory Park in Moscow alongside war veterans from Ukraine, as reported by Efe. Putin, a devout believer who was secretly baptized during the Soviet Union, used Christmas to attend the religious service at a temple inaugurated in 1995 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany.

In addition to attending the sermon, he also lit candles and prayed with others present before moving to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, where Patriarch Kirill officiated the Christmas Mass for the entire nation.

In his Christmas message, Putin defended family values and the unifying role of the Church, which supported the Russian military campaign in Ukraine from the beginning, where Kirill promised that those fallen in combat would have their sins forgiven.

Ukraine Kills 13 North Korean Soldiers in the Kursk Region

The Special Operations Forces Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported on Tuesday the death of 13 North Korean soldiers in the Russian region of Kursk. "Soldiers from the 8th Regiment of the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminated 13 North Korean military personnel," stated the Telegram release, accompanied by several photographs of the deceased soldiers, documentation, and communication equipment.

According to the Special Operations Forces, five soldiers from the Army of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fighting in Russian ranks were killed in a confrontation with light weapons, and eight more with the help of drones. "After the combat, Special Forces operators examined the bodies of the DPRK soldiers and their personal documents," as reported by Efe.

Ukraine Shoots Down 28 out of 38 Russian Drones

Ukrainian defense forces shot down 28 out of 38 drones launched by the Russian army overnight, while ten others disappeared from radars, three of them heading towards Russia, as reported by the Ukrainian Air Force on Tuesday, according to Efe.

The Telegram release specified that Shahed drones and other types of unmanned aerial vehicles were launched from Russian territories of Milerovo, Kursk, and Primorsko-Ajtarsk.

"By 09:00 hours, the downing of 28 Shahed attack drones and other types of drones in the regions of Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Kirovohrad was confirmed. No impacts were recorded," it stated.

Additionally, ten drones of various types disappeared from radars without negative consequences, three of which flew towards Russia.

Trump's Envoy to Ukraine Postpones Trip to Kiev Until After Inauguration

The envoy of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to Ukraine has postponed his trip to Kiev and other European capitals until after Trump's inauguration on January 20, as informed by four sources familiar with the trip planning to Reuters.

Retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, who will be Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, had initially planned a mission to Kiev to meet with Ukrainian leaders in early January. However, the trip, which would have marked the first time incoming Trump administration officials headed to Kiev since the November 5 elections, has been postponed. Kellogg is now expected to travel to Ukraine after Trump assumes office, although no date has been set.

Zelenski: Nearly 15,000 Casualties on the Russian Side in Kursk

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski stated in his Monday night address that Russia had suffered significant losses in five months of fighting against Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region. "During the Kursk operation, the enemy has already lost 38,000 of its soldiers, with nearly 15,000 of these losses being irreversible," he said.

Ukraine launched a massive incursion into the Kursk region in August and has seized parts of the territory, although the Russian army has claimed to have regained much of it.