The Ukrainian army has relocated near the Russian-Ukrainian border in Kursk, according to information shared by the General Staff. In the last 24 hours, Ukrainian forces have been targeted by 19 Russian airstrikes and have been involved in 20 clashes towards Kursk, according to a statement issued by the General Staff.
"The operation of our forces in certain areas of the Kursk region continues," mentioned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a Telegram message, emphasizing that Ukrainian troops are not surrounded. He noted that thanks to the Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region, a significant number of Russian forces have withdrawn from other areas.
On the other hand, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Russia's military operation to retake Kursk is in its final phase. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that they had liberated the settlements of Melovoi, Podol, and Sudzha as part of their offensive actions in the region.
Zelensky rejected claims that Ukrainian forces are besieged in Kursk, indicating that Sudzha had been under Ukrainian control since August 2024, when Ukraine began a surprise cross-border military operation in the region.
At the same time, Russian engineering units began demining efforts in the recovered border areas of Kursk, aiming to facilitate the rehabilitation of essential infrastructure and the resumption of economic activities. According to the Ministry of Defense in Moscow, prohibited munitions under the Geneva Convention have been found during these operations.
Additionally, President Zelensky warned that Russia is concentrating troops along Ukraine's eastern border, with plans to attack the northeastern region of Sumy. However, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the withdrawal of its troops from Sudzha, a key locality in the western region of Kursk.
