UPDATE 2 - Russia claims it retook multiple settlements in Kursk region from Ukrainian control

UPDATES WITH CLAIM OF 3 MORE VILLAGES CAPTURED; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE; MINOR EDITS

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia claimed on Sunday that it had retaken control of four settlements in the Kursk region, as Moscow continues to try to push out Ukrainian troops which have held large chunks of territory in the region following an incursion last August.

According to an initial Defense Ministry statement, Russian forces recaptured the village of Lebedevka, located about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) northwest of the town of Sudzha, which Kyiv claimed it captured over a week into its incursion.

The statement further claimed that its forces also took control of the village of Novenke in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, situated about 6 km (3.7 mi) southwest of Lebedevka and around a kilometer from the Russian border.

The ministry later claimed that its forces in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region went on to capture the village of Kostiantynopil, some 3 km (1.8 mi) south of Andriivka, which Moscow claimed it captured last Thursday.

Earlier, Ukraine's General Staff claimed its forces had repelled six attacks in the Novopavlivka front near two settlements, including Kostiantynopil.

Later in the evening, another Russian Defense Ministry statement claimed that its forces retook the villages of Malaya Loknya, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, and Kositsa, all located 12-16 km (7.5-9.9 mi) north of Sudzha.

On Saturday, the ministry claimed that its forces retook control of the villages of Viktorovka, Nikolaevka, and Staraya Sorochina in the Kursk region.

Last week the Trump administration cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine, a move analysts warned could cripple its forces in the ongoing war.

Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on Russia’s claims, and independent verification of Russia’s claims is difficult due to the ongoing war, which started in February 2022.