Russian counteroffensive to capture of the areas under Ukrainian control in the Kursk region has been stopped, a spokesman for the Ukrainian regional command told AFP today, adding that there are “several thousand” Russian civilians, writes BTA.
The Russians “tried to attack from the flanks, but were stopped, the situation stabilized and today everything is under control,” said spokesman Oleksii Dmitrachkivski.
After two and a half years of Russian invasion and under pressure for months in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian forces launched a surprise attack in Russia's border Kursk region on August 6, taking Moscow by surprise and seizing several hundred square kilometers and dozens of settlements.< /p>
On September 12, the Russian army announced that it had strengthened its positions by launching a counter-offensive in the area.
„They had some minor successes, but now that success has become a de facto environment for them,” said Dmytrachkivski. “The Russians entered a populated place. They started fighting for another settlement, but that's all”, he added.
The speaker also reported that “several thousand” Russian civilians are still in Ukrainian-controlled territory.
„In some settlements there are more than 100 people”, and in others - “more than 200, more than 500”, he said.
These are mostly elderly people, but there are also children, said Dmytrachkivski, who said one woman gave birth to a healthy boy in the area.
He also accused the Russian military of carrying out airstrikes, particularly using cluster bombs, in the area controlled by Ukrainian troops, saying at least 23 civilians had been killed since the end of August.< /p>
AFP cannot independently confirm the veracity of these claims.
The speaker denied any ill-treatment of Russian civilians by Ukrainian troops.
„They get water, food and bread, the soldiers do not insult them,” he said, adding that shops and pharmacies are not functioning.
In a statement, the Russian army said it was advancing in some areas of the Kursk region, while repelling Ukrainian attacks in others, AFP said.