Kursk Governor Reports Civilian Death Toll of 288 Amid Ongoing Conflict with Ukraine

On Wednesday, Russia reported that 288 civilians lost their lives during Ukraine’s prolonged military operation in the Kursk region, which Moscow asserts it has completely cleared of Ukrainian forces as of the previous weekend.

Kyiv deployed its soldiers across the border in August 2024 as a counteraction to Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine.

In recent days, the Kremlin claimed that, with assistance from North Korean troops, it had expelled Ukrainian forces from the western border area, whereas Kyiv contends that fighting is still ongoing there.

«According to the data from the Health Ministry, starting in August, 791 individuals have been affected, with 288 fatalities,» stated Acting Governor of the Kursk region, Alexander Khinstein, via social media.

He mentioned that the authorities are still far from recovering all the bodies of the deceased civilians from the border region.

Khinstein did not provide specifics on the circumstances surrounding the civilians’ deaths.

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

Russia initiated its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a conflict that has since resulted in countless casualties.