Vladimir Putin made a visit to a command post of the Kursk group of forces

Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting at a command post of the Kursk group of forces. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief was briefed by Chief of the General Staff of Russia's Armed Forces – First Deputy Defence Minister Valery Gerasimov.
Photo: Kremlin.ru

Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting at a command post of the Kursk group of forces, Kremlin informs.

Chief of the General Staff of Russia's Armed Forces – First Deputy Defence Minister Valery Gerasimov:

“Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,

The detachments of the Sever Group of Forces continue the operation to eliminate the enemy in the Kursk Region. Overall, we have liberated over 1,100 square kilometres of our territory, or more than 86 percent of the area occupied by the enemy, in the course of offensive operations.

Since the start of hostilities in the Kursk area, the enemy has lost over 67,000 personnel, comprising top-quality and highly motivated high-mobility troops of the Ukrainian armed forces, as well as foreign mercenaries. We have also destroyed about 7,000 military systems, including 391 tanks, 2,780 armoured combat vehicles and over 1,000 artillery guns and mortars.

During the autumn and winter period, the command of the Ukrainian armed forces focused on the Kursk Region. This conclusion is based on statistical data. More precisely, the relatively small Kursk foothold of the Ukrainian armed forces accounts for about 19 percent of casualties and over 40 percent of the equipment the enemy has lost in the overall combat zone. Our statistics for the past six months show that the enemy has lost 19 percent of personnel and 40 percent of equipment in that area.

The Kiev regime planned to create a so-called strategic foothold in the Kursk Region, to be subsequently used as political leverage in potential talks with Russia. In addition, the Ukrainian authorities hoped that their incursion into the Kursk Region would halt the advance of our forces and that we would divert some of them from Donbass. These plans have fallen through.

These results have been achieved owing to the courageous, selfless, and well-coordinated operations by combined units and volunteer forces of the Sever Group of Forces, as well as the effective use of aircraft of the Aerospace Forces and units of unmanned aerial vehicles.

The advance along the state border by the paratroopers from the 76th and 106th Airborn Divisions, the 83rd Air Assault Brigade, the 810th Marine Brigade, along with the successful operations by the Rubicon UAV unit in the border areas of the Kursk Region and in the Sumy Region of Ukraine in February of this year have made it possible to bring under dense fire control the remaining logistics routes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, deprive the enemy of the opportunity to redeploy reserves or deliver ammunition and materiel, creating conditions for the final rout of the enemy.

The offensive operations conducted by the 155th Marine Infantry Brigade in the Nikolskoye sector have helped to encircle a large enemy force grouping to the north of Malaya Loknya. Subsequently, Malaya Loknya and adjacent populated localities were liberated in the course of operations undertaken by the 34th Motorised Rifle Brigade, the 22nd Motorised Rifle Regiment, elements of the 9th Motorised Rifle Regiment, and elements of other units. The enemy sustained considerable losses and its separate small groups began to retreat southward, losing combatants en route as Russian artillery delivered fire for effect and drones swooped down on them.

I want to particularly praise the heroism displayed by the combined assault unit of the Veterans volunteer detachment, as well as the personnel of this combined assault unit, the 11th Air Assault Brigade, the 30th Motorised Rifle Regiment, and the Akhmat special operations unit. The assault troops of this 600-man-strong combined unit advanced nearly 15 kilometres inside an empty gas pipeline and emerged on the surface behind Ukrainian army positions. This operation took the enemy by surprise, compelled it to scale back its defences, and helped to advance our offensive in the Kursk Region.

As a result, 24 population centres and 259 sq km of the Kursk Region territory have been liberated by the Kursk Group of Forces in all directions over the past five days alone. The infiltration area has been reduced by more than 2.5 times.

The operation to destroy the enemy on Kursk land continues. The Ukrainian Armed Forces infiltration group has been isolated and is being systematically destroyed. In some directions, the Russian units have crossed the state border, entered the Sumy Region, and continue to destroy enemy reserves and to expand the security area. With further resistance now clearly futile, Ukrainian servicemen have begun to surrender, and 430 militants have been taken prisoners.

Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to destroy the formations of the armed forces of Ukraine in the Kursk Region. The objective now is to fully liberate the region and access the state border of the Russian Federation as soon as possible.

That concludes my report.”

Photo: Kremlin.ru

President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

“Speaking of that, I would like to – you have mentioned some of the units that have shown their worth – I hear about them practically every day, every morning and every night lately – and you have named some of them, but I still want to name the ones I have heard mentioned more often than others.

That includes the 76th Guards Airborne Assault Division, the 106th Guards Airborne Assault Division, the 11th Guards Separate Airborne Assault Brigade, the 83rd Guards Airborne Assault Brigade, 56th Guards Airborne Assault Regiment of the 7th Airborne Assault Division, the 155th Guards Separate Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet, the 810th Marine Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet, the 177th Guards Separate Marine Regiment of the Caspian Flotilla, the 34th Guards Motorised Rifle Brigade which was particularly active during the last week, the 22nd Motorised Rifle Regiment of the 72nd Motorised Rifle Division, the 1220th Motorised Rifle Regiment of the 3rd Motorised Rifle Division, the Akhmat Special Forces that were mentioned earlier, the Veterans volunteer formation, which is acting particularly daringly and effectively, and everyone else who engaged in hostilities alongside them. I would also like to thank senior officers from the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff for their work.

Our immediate task is to rout the enemy, who has become entrenched and continues fighting in the Kursk Region, as soon as possible, to liberate the Kursk Region and regain our positions along the state border. Of course, we should also consider – I would like to ask you to think about creating a security zone on the state border in the future. We should consider doing this.

Here is what I would like to point out. In accordance with Russian laws, we regard those who have invaded the Kursk Region, are committing crimes against civilians there and fighting against our Armed Forces, law enforcement and special services as terrorists. That is how the Prosecutor General’s Office has qualified their activities, and it is under articles on terrorism that the Investigative Committee has initiated proceedings against them.

Mr Gerasimov has mentioned prisoners of war just now. However, we must certainly regard these people primarily as terrorists, in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation. We provide and should continue to provide humane treatment for all those we capture. On the other hand, I would like to remind you that foreign mercenaries do not come within the purview of the 1949 Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War.

Lastly, I would like to ask you to convey our gratitude to our military personnel for everything they have recently accomplished. I strongly hope that all our detachments will fulfil the combat tasks set for them, and that the territory of the Kursk Region will be fully liberated from the enemy in the near future.”

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