EPA
The Russian Army Secretary made the claim during a video conference with President Vladimir Putin
During a video conference with Putin on Saturday, Gerasimov said: “Today, the last settlement in the Kursk region, Gornar village, has been released from the Ukrainian troops.”
He praised what he described as the “heroism” of the North Korean military “which provided important support to defeating a group of Ukrainian forces.”
“The Kiev administration’s adventures have completely failed,” Putin told Gerasimov, claiming it would pave the way for further Russian advancement in other respects.
Responding in a Telegram post, Ukrainian military general staff said the battlefield situation was “difficult”, but claimed that the forces still hold their positions in Kursk and continue to invade in Russia’s Belgorod region.
The Ukrainian invasion began last August as an attempt to create a buffer zone at the border between the two countries to prevent Russian troops from being deployed to the eastern frontlines of Ukraine.
President Donald Trump is the day after Russia and Ukraine said this week’s talks between delegates Steve Witkov and Putin, “very close to a deal” to end the war.
Trump met with Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky ahead of Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican on Saturday. Zelensky told the BBC on Friday it wanted a “complete and unconditional ceasefire” before the deal gets hit.
Kiev is facing growing pressure from Trump to accept territorial concessions as part of a contract with Moscow reportedly includes abandoning the Crimean Peninsula, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.
Ukraine hoped it could use the seized land in Kursk region in future peace negotiations with Russia, which began a full invasion in 2022 and control about 20% of Ukraine’s internationally recognized territory.
Russia says its troops are now on the border with Ukraine’s Smie region, next to Kursk.
