Russia driving back Ukrainian forces in Kursk Region – MOD

Russian troops have pushed back Ukrainian forces in Kursk Region, liberating several settlements, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has announced. 

In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said that over the past 48 hours, Russia’s ‘North’ group of forces had liberated ten villages not far from the Ukrainian border, including Apanasovka, Byakhovo, Vishnevka, Viktorovka, Vnezapnoe, Gordeevka, Krasnooktyabrskoye, Obukhovka, Snagost and Desyatoe Oktyabrya. 

The village of Gordeevka is located less than 2km from the Ukrainian border, while the others are slightly deeper into Russian territory. Gains were also made some 30km west of the town of Sudzha, where the fiercest fighting took place early into the incursion by Kiev’s forces. 

At the same time, the ministry did not provide details on the level of resistance encountered during the advance. It stated, however, that Russian troops had repelled several Ukrainian counterattacks, including one near Snagost. 

The statement comes as Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky said Russian forces had launched a counterattack in Kursk Region, but insisted that “everything goes in accordance with our Ukrainian plan.” 

Kiev launched its incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region in early August, initially making some gains. Moscow, however, has said that the advance has since been contained, estimating Ukraine’s losses at more than 12,500 service members and hundreds of armored vehicles. 

Officials in Moscow have accused Kiev of indiscriminately targeting civilians and committing war crimes in the area, and have ruled out any peace talks with Ukraine while it has troops on Russian soil.