Kursk Region Reports 288 Civilian Deaths Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict

On Wednesday, Russia reported that 288 civilians lost their lives during Ukraine’s prolonged offensive in the Kursk region, which Moscow asserted it had completely liberated from Ukrainian forces over the weekend.

Kyiv deployed its military across the border in August 2024 in response to Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine.

In recent statements, the Kremlin claimed that, with assistance from North Korean personnel, it had driven Ukrainian forces out of the western border area, while Kyiv countered that fighting continues in that region.

«Based on data from the Health Ministry, since August, the well-being of 791 individuals has been affected, with 288 confirmed deceased,» stated Acting Governor of the Kursk region, Alexander Khinstein, via social media.

He noted that authorities are still far from retrieving all the bodies of the deceased civilians from the border zones.

Khinstein did not provide any specifics regarding the circumstances of the civilians’ deaths.

President Vladimir Putin has promised to impose penalties on any Ukrainian soldiers captured in the Kursk region, designating them as «terrorists.»

Russia commenced its extensive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, resulting in the deaths of thousands since the outbreak of hostilities.