Ukraine’s army chief claims control of nearly 500 sq miles in Russia’s Kursk, capture of almost 600 servicemen

However, these claims are yet to be verified.

“The enemy is redeploying troops from other areas, thereby weakening their positions. They are attempting to encircle our offensive troops and are planning counter-offensive actions,” Syrskyi was quoted by AP, while commenting on the situation in the Kursk region.

Syrskyi explained that one of the goals of the Kursk operation was to draw Russian forces away from other key areas, particularly Pokrovsk and Kurakhove. “The Kursk operation diverted a significant number of its forces,” The Guardian quoted him, emphasising that Russian troops had been redeployed from Ukraine’s southern regions.

“As of now, we can say that around 30,000 servicemen have been sent to the Kursk front and this figure is growing.”

Discussing Pokrovsk, a coal-mining city with strategic military importance as a transport hub that Russia has been advancing on, Syrskyi said that Russia was attempting to disrupt Ukraine’s supply lines to the front. “The situation on the Pokrovsk front is fairly difficult … the enemy is using its advantage in personnel, weapons and military equipment, it is actively using artillery and aviation,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Russia launched more deadly strikes on Ukraine with missiles and drones, following a “massive” attack on the country’s power grid.

A strike on a hotel in Kryvyi Rih on Tuesday morning killed two people and injured five, part of a series of attacks on hotels across central and eastern Ukraine. Drone attacks in Zaporizhzhia also killed two people and injured four.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 10 missiles and 81 drones, with air defences downing five missiles and 60 drones. Authorities in Kyiv confirmed that all targets aimed at the city were intercepted, with explosions heard as air defences repelled the attack.