Ukraine announced on Thursday that it had captured more than 900 Russian troops over six months of fighting in Russia’s western Kursk region, marking a significant development in its ongoing military efforts.
According to Kyiv, a key objective of its offensive, launched in August just beyond its border with Russia, was to secure Russian prisoners for potential exchanges involving captured Ukrainian soldiers.
“During the operation, Ukrainian forces captured 909 Russian servicemen, significantly replenishing the exchange fund,” the Ukrainian military stated. “This made it possible to bring home hundreds of Ukrainian defenders who had been held in Russian prisons.”
Despite nearly three years of war, Kyiv and Moscow continue to conduct prisoner exchanges, with Ukraine prioritizing the return of its troops.
Strategic Gains and Challenges
Last year, Ukrainian forces reported capturing over 700 Russian troops during operations in the Kursk region. However, following Ukraine’s largest incursion into Russian territory since World War II, its forces have been gradually losing the areas initially seized.
Kyiv asserts that its remaining territorial foothold in Kursk will serve as a valuable bargaining chip in any future negotiations with Russia, whose forces continue to make steady gains along the eastern front line.
