Ukraine has gained control of 74 localities in Russia's Kursk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Telegram on Tuesday.
This is more than double the number claimed by Moscow on Monday.
Ukraine’s offensive in the Russian territory of Kursk began on 6 August. By 12 August, Kyiv said it was in control of 1,000 square kilometres. The governor of the Russian region reported on Monday that Ukraine held 28 localities and had reached as deep as 12 kilometres over a breadth of 40 kilometres.
President Zelenskyy indicated he was in constant contact with Ukrainian Army commander Oleksandre Syrsky on the evolving situation on the ground, where active “control and stabilisation” measures were being implemented in areas now under Ukrainian control.
Zelenskyy emphasised that the safety of civilians was paramount and assured that Kyiv had no intention of damaging infrastructure.
He also confirmed that Ukrainian troops were continuing to advance in Kursk region. A growing number of Russian soldiers were being taken prisoner, and could potentially be used for future exchanges with Russia, he added.
