MOSCOW: The Russian Defence Ministry said on Monday that its forces have recaptured two villages in the Kursk region from Ukrainian control, marking a significant development in the ongoing conflict.
According to the ministry, the villages of Uspenovka and Borki, situated approximately 20 kilometers apart near the border with Ukraine’s Sumy region, have been regained by Russian troops.
The announcement comes after weeks of intense fighting in Kursk, which began on August 6 when Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale attack on Russian soil, described as the most significant foreign assault on Russia since World War II. This counter-offensive by Ukraine was aimed at stretching Russian military resources and shifting focus away from other fronts.
A senior Russian military commander and pro-Kremlin war bloggers reported last week that Russian forces had regained control of approximately ten settlements in the Kursk region.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials assert that their forces maintain control over about 100 villages in Kursk, covering an area of more than 1,300 square kilometers. This claim is contested by Russian sources.
Russian forces are also making advances in eastern Ukraine, targeting Pokrovsk, a crucial rail and logistics hub for Ukrainian operations. Capturing Pokrovsk would represent a significant step toward Russia’s goal of taking full control of the Donetsk region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on September 13 that the incursion into Kursk has slowed Russian progress in the eastern part of the country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the other hand, contends that the Ukrainian assault on Kursk has diverted Kyiv’s attention and resources from the eastern front, weakening its defences there.
Over the weekend, both Russia and Ukraine conducted separate prisoner exchanges involving hundreds of prisoners of war. Many of the Russian soldiers involved in the exchanges were reportedly captured while defending Kursk, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.
