Ukraine announced on Thursday, February 6, that it has captured 909 Russian troops over six months of operations in Russia’s western Kursk region. The operation, launched in August, was designed to bolster Ukraine’s ability to secure exchanges for its prisoners of war, according to Kyiv.
“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,” the statement added.
Despite the ongoing war, now nearing its third year, Kyiv and Moscow continue to cooperate on prisoner exchanges. Ukrainian authorities have prioritized the return of captured troops, with efforts yielding significant results over the past year.
In a similar operation last year, the Ukrainian military reported capturing over 700 Russian soldiers in the Kursk region. The latest figures represent a significant increase in Ukraine’s capacity to negotiate prisoner swaps.
Ukraine’s surprise offensive into Russian territory in August marked the largest such operation by a foreign army on Russian soil since World War II. However, after initial gains, Ukrainian forces have faced setbacks, losing some of the territory they captured.
Kyiv maintains that its remaining foothold in the Kursk region will serve as an important bargaining chip in future peace negotiations. Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to advance steadily along the front lines in eastern Ukraine.
