UPDATE - Russia says 28 settlements in Kursk border region under Ukrainian control

Kursk’s acting governor says 12 killed, 121 injured since start of Ukraine’s incursion into border region last Tuesday

UPDATES WITH FURTHER REMARKS FROM KURSK GOVERNOR; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia on Monday said that almost a week into Kyiv’s incursion into the country’s Kursk region, 28 settlements in the border region are currently under Ukrainian control.

“The situation in the region is currently difficult. There are currently 28 settlements under enemy’s control,” Alexey Smirnov, Kursk’s acting governor, said during an operational meeting with President Vladimir Putin and other government officials in Moscow.

Last Tuesday, Russia said that Ukrainian troops, including tanks and armored combat vehicles, attacked its military positions near two border settlements in the Kursk region.

Since then, Moscow has reported that it has been repelling incursions into the border region by Ukrainian forces, in addition to countering airstrikes launched at Kursk and surrounding regions.

Putin on Aug. 7 accused Kyiv of carrying out “large-scale provocation” and “indiscriminate shooting.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy replied the next day: “Russia brought the war to our land and should feel what it has done.”

Smirnov said that 12 people were killed and 121 were injured in the region, including 10 children, since the start of Kyiv’s incursion into the region, which is adjacent to Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region.

He added that about 121,000 residents of the region have already been evacuated, with 59,000 others preparing to do the same.

He also said that Ukrainian forces penetrated 12 kilometers (7.4 miles) into the region, with the front line in the region spanning 40 km (24.8 mi).

Smirnov added that the fate of about 2,000 people in the 28 settlements under Ukrainian control is currently unknown.

Some 194 missiles and drones were directed at the region by Ukraine since the start of the incursion, of which 147 were shot down, according to Kursk’s acting governor.

Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on Smirnov's remarks.

Kaynak:

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