Russia says 56 killed since start of Ukraine's incursion into Kursk region

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia said on Monday that at least 56 people have been killed since the start of Ukraine’s incursion into the country’s border region of Kursk in August.

“As of the end of last week, 266 people were wounded. (Since) the start of the (Ukrainian) incursion, 56 people, including 11 children, were killed,” Russian Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik said during a press conference in the capital Moscow.

Miroshnik said that all details regarding the consequences of Ukraine’s offensive in the border region will come out only after Russia establishes full control and pushes Ukrainian troops out.

According to him, the Ukrainian military is holding 70 to 120 civilians, including 15 children, at a social institution in the town of Sudzha.

Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on Miroshnik’s claim, and independent verification of the claim is difficult due to the ongoing war.

Kyiv's offensive in the Kursk region began on the night of Aug. 6, when Ukrainian forces entered the region near Sudzha, located about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the border.

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Kyiv of carrying out a “large-scale provocation” and “indiscriminate shooting,” describing the incursion as a “terrorist attack.”

Days later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted it was an “operation” by Ukraine’s troops, specifying that the goal is to create a “buffer zone” against cross-border attacks by Russia.​​​​​​​