**Russia Loses Over 38,000 Troops in Kursk Oblast**
Ukraine‘s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that Russia has lost over 38,000 troops and more than 1,000 pieces of equipment since Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast began.
Syrskyi made the statement on January 1 after visiting Russia’s Kursk Oblast to reward Ukrainian military serving in the area. He also said that over 700 Russian servicemen were captured during the Ukrainian incursion.
**Battle Continues**
Syrskyi vowed to continue destroying the invaders, regardless of their nationality. “We will continue to destroy the invaders,” he said. “It doesn’t matter whether they have Russian or North Korean passports. The battle continues.”
**Ukraine’s Gains**
Ukraine began its surprise incursion into Kursk Oblast on August 6, capturing about 1,300 square kilometers of territory. However, Ukrainian forces have lost control of about half of the initially captured territory as intense fighting continues in the region.
**North Korean Casualties**
Russia has stationed approximately 12,000 North Korean soldiers in the region to assist in ousting Ukrainian forces. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on December 23 that more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured since their deployment in Kursk Oblast.
**Gas Transit Agreement**
Ukraine has repeatedly warned that it would not extend the gas transit agreement when it expires at the end of 2024. The National Bank of Ukraine said that one of its buildings in Kyiv’s Pechersk District had been damaged by falling debris.
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