Russian troops have said they have regained full control of the country’s West Kursk region, which was rejected by Ukraine, the BBC reported on Sunday.
Russia’s top commander Valery Gerasimov said the last village held by the Ukrainian forces has now been recaptured – eight months after Kiev’s surprising invasion.
He also praised the North Korean military “heroes” in the first time Russia has publicly admitted their involvement during its anti-aggression. Russian President Putin described Ukrainian efforts in Kursk as a complete failure.
Ukrainian forces have retreated in Kursk in recent months and face 70,000 Russian troops and a fierce drone attack as part of a drive to reclaim Russian territory.
In its latest report on April 25, the US-based War Research Institute (ISW) think tank said, “The Russian army has recently advanced near the Kursk Oblast border as part of an effort to push Ukrainian forces out of limited locations in the region.”
ISW also reported that “the fight continued in the northwest Belgorod Oblast (region) on April 25th.”
During a video conference with Putin on Saturday, Gerasimov said: “Today, the last settlement in the Kursk region, Gornar village, has been released from the Ukrainian troops.”
Gerasimov said more than 76,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and wounded in the Kursk region.
He also praised the North Korean army, saying it “provides important support in defeating Ukrainian military groups.”
“The Kiev administration’s adventures have completely failed,” Putin responded, telling Gerasimov, claiming it paved the way for further Russian advancement in other ways.
Russian troops say that it now controls several settlements in the Smie region northeast of Ukraine, next to Kursk.