The Russian defense ministry has reported ongoing efforts to repel an alleged attempt by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to invade Russian territory. This comes a week after a Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region began. The ministry stated that the northern group of forces, with air and drone support, successfully prevented further advances by Ukrainian troops into Russian territory, specifically mentioning small settlements like Skrylevka and Levshinka located approximately 20 kilometers from the border.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Wednesday that Ukrainian troops had advanced 1 to 2 kilometers into the Kursk region. The Russian defense ministry released a video purportedly showing the capture of several Ukrainian soldiers near Martynovka, although the video's location and the identities of those captured remain unverified. The ministry claimed that Ukrainian forces suffered significant losses, with up to 270 servicemen and 16 armored vehicles reportedly destroyed.
The ministry also reported the discovery and destruction of two enemy groups in the Martynovka area. Additionally, Russian aircraft conducted strikes on Ukrainian reserves in Ukraine's Sumy region. The extent of Russia's redeployment of units to bolster the defense of Kursk remains unclear, but there are indications of reserve forces being redirected to the region.
On the Ukrainian side, the General Staff claimed that anti-aircraft missiles downed a Russian Su-34 combat aircraft in the Kursk region. Oleh Syniehubov, the head of Kharkiv regional military administration in Ukraine, noted that there has been no observed withdrawal of Russian troops in the Kharkiv direction.
