Ukraine's top military commander says some Ukrainian troops in the western Russian region of Kursk are moving to "more favorable positions" to protect their lives.



The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported on social media on Wednesday that fighting is continuing in the Kursk region, and Russia is deploying airborne assault units and special operations forces in an attempt to break through Ukraine's defenses and oust Ukrainian troops from the region.



He said the Russian military is suffering significant losses in Kursk while trying to achieve political goals at all costs.



The commander said that more than 54,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded and 942 taken prisoner since Ukraine began its cross-border attacks in August last year.



He also said that Ukraine has damaged or destroyed 90 tanks and 654 armored combat vehicles of the Russian military.



He said Russian airstrikes have almost completely destroyed the city of Sudzha.



Syrskyi said that despite the increased pressure from Russian and North Korean troops, Ukraine will hold the defense of the Kursk region for as long as necessary.