Ukrainian forces have seized control of approximately 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of Russian territory, according to a statement made by Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi on Monday, August 12, 2024.
This declaration comes a week after a surprise cross-border assault that has left the Kremlin scrambling to respond and has shifted the initiative in the ongoing conflict back to Kyiv.
Gen. Syrskyi, in a video posted to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Telegram channel, stated, “The troops are fulfilling their tasks. Fighting continues actually along the entire front line. The situation is under our control.”
While NBC News has not been able to independently confirm the extent of territory held by Ukrainian forces, the statement marks a significant development in the conflict.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his first major public address on the crisis, vowed to drive Ukrainian troops from Russian soil.
Speaking at a special meeting dedicated to the situation, Putin ordered his defense ministry to “squeeze out, to knock out the enemy from our territories” before reinforcing Russia’s border defenses.
Location of alleged attacks inside Russia
The Russian leader suggested that Ukraine’s incursion aimed to improve its position in future peace talks, alleviate pressure on its forces along the front lines, and sow discord within Russia.
The ongoing battles in the Kursk border region, now in their seventh day, have seen Ukrainian forces reportedly advance up to 20 miles into Russian territory.
The Russian defense ministry acknowledged on Sunday that its forces were still engaged in intense fighting with Ukrainian troops near the villages of Tolpino, Obshchy Kolodez, and Zhuravli, located 13 to 17 miles from the Ukrainian border.
The assault has led to evacuations in parts of the Kursk and neighboring Belgorod regions. Acting Kursk governor Aleksei Smirnov reported to Putin that 28 settlements in his region were under Ukraine’s control, with about 180,000 people subject to evacuation. More than 120,000 have already been evacuated or left voluntarily.
In the Belgorod region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov warned of increased “enemy activity” and announced proactive evacuations. Officials later reported that 11,000 people had been evacuated from the region.
The conflict has also raised concerns about the safety of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Both sides accused each other of endangering Europe’s largest nuclear facility after a major fire broke out at the site on Sunday.
nbcnews.com
