Russia, Ukraine say fighting in Kursk region continues

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Kyiv and Moscow on Saturday said fighting in Russia's Kursk region still continued.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement the group of forces Sever (North) is clearing forests to find mobile groups of Ukrainian troops heading deep into Russian territory.

Attacks of assault groups in the direction of the settlements of Korenevo, Russian and Cherkassk Porechnoye were repelled, the ministry added.

The aviation and artillery hit the places of concentration of Ukraine's manpower and military equipment, it said, noting that the opponent also lost a tank and 11 armored vehicles "as a result of these unsuccessful actions."

The ministry said other military equipment, including an anti-aircraft missile system launcher Iris, reserves, fuel and ammunition storages were destroyed in missile strikes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was briefed by commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi who said a lot of war prisoners were taken.

"General Syirskyi also reported on strengthening the positions of our forces in the North and expanding the stabilized territory," he said.

Zelenskyy urged partners to support Ukraine's actions through sending more weapons and military equipment.

"We are working on new support packages for our state from our partners. We are defining priority items. The main thing is the limitation of the Russian offensive potential and expanding our range of strike. We are preparing relevant instructions to Ukrainian diplomats," he said.

Kyiv's incursion into Kursk began on the night of Aug. 5-6 when Ukrainian forces entered near the town of Sudzha. On Aug. 12, Zelenskyy confirmed the operation but did not elaborate on its objectives.

Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry reported that around 9,500 people had been evacuated from the combat zone.

President Vladimir Putin has condemned the incursion as a "terrorist attack."