Russian forces responding to the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Region are pushing Kiev’s troops back in multiple directions, the Defense Ministry in Moscow reported on Monday.
The update reported the liberation of two Russian settlements from Ukrainian troops. One of them, Uspenovka, is located 24km west of the town of Sudzha, the central hub for Kiev’s incursion. The other settlement, Borky, is 14km southeast of Sudzha.
The ministry also listed seven other villages, near to which Ukrainian units have reportedly been defeated over the past 24 hours, including one just 11km to the south of Sudzha.
Kiev sent thousands of troops across its northern border with Russia in August. Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has claimed that the operation is part of a “victory plan,” which he intends to submit this month to the US government for consideration. American support is understood to be crucial for implementing Kiev’s strategy.
Russian estimates of Ukrainian casualties in its Kursk Region operation have reached 13,800, according to the latest update.
Last week, the Russian military reported liberating ten settlements in Kursk Region. Zelensky confirmed the Russian counteroffensive, claiming that Ukraine had planned accordingly for it.
Earlier on Monday, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) claimed that Kiev is considering staging a false flag attack on a children’s facility on its soil. Accusing Russia of the “inhumane provocation” would help the Ukrainian government put pressure on the US and its allies to allow the use of their weapons for long-range strikes deep inside Russia, the agency claimed.