Ukraine, Russia both claim advances in Kursk region

KYIV:

Ukraine on Thursday claimed fresh advances in its offensive into Russia, saying it had seized over 1,100 square kilometres in the biggest attack by a foreign army on Russian soil since World War II.

Russia said it had recaptured a first village from Ukrainian forces in the Kursk border region and announced it was sending "additional forces" to the neighbouring Belgorod region.

Ukraine said it now controlled dozens of settlements and Sudzha, a town eight kilometres (five miles) from the border.

"We have taken control of 1,150 square kilometres of territory and 82 settlements," said top military commander Oleksandr Syrsky. Ukrainian troops launched the offensive on August 6, breaking months of setbacks for the army that has been battling a Russian invasion for more than two years.

The top general also told President Volodymyr Zelensky the army had set up an administrative office "to maintain law and order and meet the priority needs of the population in the controlled territories".