The General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces announced the liberation of 4.5 thousand square kilometers of territory from the AFU in 2024

The Russian army has liberated about 4.5 thousand square kilometres of territory from the Ukrainian enemy during a special military operation (SMO) in 2024. This was reported on February 20 by the head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Sergei Rudskoy, in an interview with Krasnaya Zvezda.

"In total, in 2024, Russian troops liberated almost 4.5 thousand square kilometers of territory occupied by the enemy, and for two months of this year - more than 600 square kilometers more," he said.

According to Rudsky, in the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions, the Russian army has liberated about 75% of the territories of these regions from Ukrainian nationalists, while in the Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) less than 1% remained to be liberated.

He also added that Ukrainian servicemen in the Kursk region have suffered significant losses and are retreating from previously occupied positions, despite the transfer of additional reserves.

"The territory of the Kursk region under the control of the AFU has been reduced by more than half. More than 800 square kilometers have been liberated, which is about 64% of the territory initially occupied by the enemy," the general added.

Rudskoy also noted that 2024 has become a turning point for the fighting, the Ukrainian army will no longer be able to significantly change the course of military events, adds "Gazeta.Ru".

Offensive initiative: major victories of the Russian army in the NWO zone over the year

Russian Armed Forces launched attacks and liberated strategically important towns in the DNR

Earlier, on February 17, the Russian Armed Forces liberated the settlement of Sverdlikovo in the Kursk region. That day, Ukrainian units lost more than 300 militants in the region. Later, on February 19, the Defense Ministry said that during the liberation of Sverdlikovo, the Russian army took control of the Suja-Rylsk road.