Russia’s Defense Ministry announced Wednesday the recapture of two villages in its Kursk region that were previously taken by Ukrainian forces in a surprise offensive.
The ministry stated that Russian troops “continued offensive operations, during which they liberated the settlements of Novaya Sorochina and Pokrovsky.” Novaya Sorochina is situated close to the Ukrainian border, while Pokrovsky lies deeper within Russian territory.
This marks a rare instance of Russia claiming territorial gains since Ukraine launched its offensive into the border region on August 6. The ministry added that Russian forces are “continuing actions to defeat the enemy group that has penetrated into the territory of Kursk region.”
Russian officials also reported repelling Ukrainian attacks on two villages near Pokrovsky, indicating ongoing conflict in the area.
In mid-September, the Defense Ministry had claimed the recapture of 12 villages in the Kursk region. However, a spokesman for Ukraine’s military administration subsequently told AFP that Russia’s counteroffensive to retake territory had been “stopped.”
Ukraine has stated that its offensive aims to create a buffer zone in the region to prevent shelling of its border areas. By the end of August, Ukrainian forces claimed control of approximately 100 Russian settlements and nearly 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of territory.
The conflict continues to impact civilian areas, with Ukraine reporting on Wednesday that Russia had launched a ballistic missile attack on its central Poltava region from the Kursk region.
themoscowtimes
