Former prisoners and "Storm Z" forces have captured 26 Russians in the Kursk region.

Ukrainian forces are continuing their operation in the Kursk region of Russia. Recently, 26 Russian soldiers were captured there.

This was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing the Telegram channel of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the paratroopers, they are actively increasing their exchange fund by capturing Russian soldiers in the Kursk region.

In particular, during one of the unsuccessful enemy assaults, a significant number of adversaries were eliminated, and those who miraculously survived chose to surrender, thus saving their lives.

"In the video, two fighters from the 'Storm Z' unit share their story: former prisoners who, after signing a contract and ten days of training, were sent to die like cannon fodder. However, after encountering Ukrainian paratroopers, they decided to surrender and recommend that their fellow citizens do the same," the video is captioned.

Operation in the Kursk Region

The Ukrainian Defense Forces launched an operation in the Kursk region at the beginning of August, aimed at creating a buffer zone to protect border areas from potential attacks by Russian troops. The breakthrough by Ukrainian forces allowed for the capture of dozens of settlements, advancing a significant distance. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the successes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of establishing a safe area for the Sumy region.

The operation also had another crucial objective – to deplete enemy forces and expand the exchange fund for future negotiations. According to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, this preemptive measure helped prevent a breakthrough by Russian troops into Ukrainian territory, which could have posed a serious threat to the civilian population and infrastructure of the region.

Zelensky stated that Ukraine plans to hold its positions in the Kursk region until Moscow is compelled to come to the negotiating table. This operation has become one of the key stages in the confrontation aimed at ensuring long-term security for Ukraine's border regions and strengthening positions on the international stage.

Over three months of active fighting, the Russian army has lost more than 20,000 servicemen, as well as 1,101 units of military equipment and armaments.