Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that his country’s troops have captured dozens of Russian towns in the southern Kursk region, a week after the start of a surprise cross-border offensive.
“Ukraine controls 74 communities,” Zelensky said on the social media platform X.
The figure is much higher than Russian authorities have announced. Kursk acting governor Alexei Smirnov said Monday that 28 places were under Ukrainian control.
According to the Ukrainian DeepState mapping project, 44 settlements have been captured, while independent Russian media put the number at around 30.
Zelensky said he is constantly updated on the situation by Ukraine’s Supreme Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi.
“Despite the difficult and intense fighting, our forces continue to advance in the Kursk region,” Zelensky added, noting that more and more Russian soldiers are being captured to use as bargaining chips in the next prisoner exchange with Russia.
“I am grateful to our fighters for their heroic service,” Zelensky said.
Inspections and stabilization measures are now underway in the Ukrainian-controlled areas, Zelensky said. “The development of humanitarian solutions for these areas continues,” he said.
Kiev had previously said that no civilians should be harmed in the offensive, which began last Tuesday.
The president said next steps were being worked on, without providing details.
The aim of the offensive, he added, is to achieve a just peace as soon as possible.
The Ukrainian leadership has made it clear that it wants to use the territories in the Kursk region as leverage in peace negotiations. The goal is not to permanently occupy the area.
