Russia Says Two Kursk Region Villages Recaptured From Ukraine

Russia’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday it had retaken two villages in its Kursk region that were captured by Ukraine in a surprise offensive.
Russia has rarely claimed any recaptured territory since Ukraine launched its offensive into the border region on Aug. 6.
The ministry said in a statement that Russian troops “continued offensive operations, during which they liberated the settlements of Novaya Sorochina and Pokrovsky.”
Novaya Sorochina is located close to the border with Ukraine, while Pokrovsky is deeper into Russian territory.
Russia said its troops “are continuing actions to defeat the enemy group that has penetrated into the territory of Kursk region.”
It said it had repelled Ukrainian attacks on two villages near Pokrovsky.
In mid-September, the Defense Ministry said that Russian troops had retaken 12 villages in the Kursk region.
Soon after, a spokesman in Ukraine’s military administration told AFP that Russia’s counteroffensive to retake territory had been “stopped.”
Ukraine has said its offensive is intended to create a buffer zone in the region to stop shelling of its border areas.
At the end of August, it claimed to control some 100 Russian settlements and almost 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of territory.
Ukraine said Wednesday that Russia had launched a ballistic missile attack on its central Poltava region from the Kursk region.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has designated The Moscow Times as an “undesirable” organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a “foreign agent.”
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work “discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership.” We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It’s quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you’re defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.