Kiev denies Kremlin has full control of Kursk border region
The Ukrainian General Staff said on Saturday that fighting is ongoing in parts of Kursk, dismissing earlier statements by the Kremlin that Russian troops had recaptured the border region as a "propaganda move."
In addition to Kursk, fighting is also ongoing in the neighbouring Russian region of Belgorod, the Ukrainian General Staff wrote on Facebook.
Previously on Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov announced that Russian troops had recaptured Kursk from Ukrainian forces, who invaded it in early August last year, capturing dozens of towns.
Russia was spreading "wishful thinking," the military leadership in Kiev said in a statement, adding that several attacks from the Russian side had been repelled.
"The operational situation is difficult, but our units continue to hold certain positions and carry out the tasks assigned to them," the statement said.
The Russian Defence Ministry reiterated its statement in the afternoon that the last Ukrainian troops had been pushed back into neighbouring territory.
Russian troops have regained full control of the border region of Kursk, the Kremlin said.
Gerasimov informed Putin that the operation had been completed, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Russian news agency Interfax.
Peskov said the developments marked the "liberation" of Kursk.
Ukrainian troops launched a surprise counter-attack in the western Russian region in early August, capturing dozens of towns.
"The dismantling of the armed formations of the Ukrainian armed forces that entered the Kursk region has been completed," Gerasimov said.
"The plans of the Kiev regime to create a so-called strategic bridgehead and disrupt our offensive in the Donbass have failed," he added, referring to the eastern Ukrainian region that has seen the heaviest fighting since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
If Kiev loses Kursk, this would be a significant blow for Kiev - and for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky - amid attempts to reach a peace deal brokered by US President Donald Trump.
The counteroffensive in Kursk was seen as an attempt to secure a better bargaining position for Ukraine.
While Ukrainian troops initially gained up to 1,300 square kilometres of Russian territory, they were steadily pushed back over the winter, with Russia announcing the recapture of the region's main city Sudzha in March.
The Kursk offensive is believed to have taken a heavy toll on Ukrainian forces and ultimately left Kiev exposed on its eastern flank.
At least three dead as Russia attacks Ukraine's Donetsk
At least three people were killed in Russian attacks in Ukraine's Donetsk region as Moscow's forces bombed the eastern area.
Eight people were injured, according to the local public prosecutor's office.
Russia initially attacked the eastern Ukrainian industrial town of Kostyantynivka with three glide bombs, killing one and injuring two people.
Another man was killed and three people injured as the attacks continued.
One person was reportedly killed and three injured following attacks in the Pokrovsk district.
Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for over three years.
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