Ukraine in control of 92 settlements in Russia's Kursk Oblast, Zelensky claims
Ukrainian forces are in control of 92 settlements and more than 1,250 square kilometers of Kursk Oblast in Russia as the incursion into the region continues, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug. 19.
Kyiv's unprecedented operation is ongoing for two weeks, with the Ukrainian military capturing the town of Sudzha in Kursk Oblast and allegedly destroyed all three bridges over the Seim River near the border.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify Zelensky's claims about the number of seized Russian territory.
Speaking at a meeting in the city of Dnipro, the president said that Ukraine continues to strengthen its positions, stabilize "certain areas" and continues to take Russian soldiers as POWs.
"This operation has become our largest investment in the process of releasing Ukrainians from Russian captivity. We have already captured the largest number of Russian prisoners in one operation," he said, without elaborating.
Ukraine declined to provide a full number of Russian captives taken during the Kursk incursion following the Kyiv Independent's request.
Zelensky said that "hundreds" of Russian soldiers had been captured as of Aug. 13, while an undisclosed Ukrainian colonel told The Independent news outlet that the number may be as high as 2,000.
The Russian border near Ukraine's Sumy Oblast has been "largely cleared" of the Russian soldiers, which Zelensky called one of the tactical goals of Kyiv's incursion.
Chris York
