Ukrainian armed forces commander-in-chief Oleksandr Sirsky said Ukrainian troops had captured 100 settlements in Russia since crossing into the Russian border in the Kursk region on August 6.
“We are continuing to advance, causing heavy losses to Russian troops in manpower and equipment,” Sirsky was quoted as saying by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Tuesday.
According to Sirsky, Russia has deployed about 30,000 troops from other regions to the Kursk region and is now trying to create “a defensive ring” around the Ukrainian forces, according to news agency Xinhua.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that its Akhmat special forces had carried out a reconnaissance operation and captured a key position in the Sudzha district of the Kursk region, which was previously occupied by Ukraine.
This height was located 400–500 metres away from the Ukrainian advance positions.
Russian troops can now monitor Ukrainian military movements, TASS reported, citing a source at the scene.
Sirskiy said Ukraine had launched an operation in Kursk aimed at creating a buffer zone to prevent shelling of Ukraine’s adjacent Sumy region. He said his troops were advancing and had captured 594 Russian soldiers.
According to Sirsky, Russia is trying to oppose Ukraine by withdrawing troops from other fronts.
He said Russia was not withdrawing its troops from the Pokrovsk front in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, where the situation still remained “difficult.”
The Kursk region has been the site of an offensive since the night of Aug. 5-6, when Ukrainian forces entered an area near the town of Sudzha, about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the border.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Kiev of “massive provocation” and “indiscriminate firing”, and described the incursion as a “terrorist attack”.
A few days later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that it was an “operation” carried out by Ukrainian troops, and clarified that its goal was to create a “buffer zone” against Russian attacks.
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