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KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The Kremlin has announced that all Ukrainian military forces have been expelled from Russia’s Kursk region, as conveyed by spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
During a meeting on Saturday, Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff for the Russian Armed Forces, informed President Vladimir Putin of the development, according to reports from the Russian state news agency Interfax.
Ukrainian officials have yet to issue any remarks regarding this assertion.
In his remarks, Putin extended congratulations to Russian soldiers and commanders, declaring that Ukraine’s recent offensive had “completely failed.”
He stated, “The total defeat of our adversary along the Kursk border establishes favorable conditions for ongoing successes for our armed forces in other significant areas of the front.”
In August 2024, the Ukrainian military stunned Russia by breaching the border and seizing around 1,300 square kilometers (approximately 500 square miles) of territory. The intention behind capturing Russian land was to bolster Ukraine’s position in any forthcoming peace discussions, yet their territorial gains were gradually diminished, leading to a loss of control during the early part of 2025.
Gerasimov further confirmed on Saturday that North Korean soldiers participated in combat operations alongside Russian troops in the Kursk region. He noted that they engaged in “combat missions shoulder to shoulder with Russian servicemen during the Russian defense against the Ukrainian incursion,” highlighting their “high professionalism, fortitude, courage, and heroism in battle.”
This development coincides with a significant diplomatic meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Vatican City. They convened on the margins of the pope’s funeral to discuss a possible ceasefire.
The two leaders met at St. Peter’s Basilica for approximately 15 minutes and agreed to continue their negotiations later that same day, as confirmed by Ukrainian presidential spokesman Serhii Nykyforov. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung also acknowledged the meeting.
Upon arriving in Rome the previous Friday, Trump expressed on social media the necessity for Ukraine and Russia to engage in “very high-level talks” aimed at concluding the ongoing conflict that began with Russia’s invasion three years ago. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, had discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier that day, and Trump indicated that both parties were “very close to a deal.”
In related developments, Russian strikes across Ukraine resulted in three fatalities overnight, local authorities reported on Saturday.
Two individuals lost their lives in a strike on the town of Yarova in the eastern Donetsk region, as indicated by local Governor Vadym Filashkin on social media. Another victim was reported in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Governor Serhiy Lysak confirmed, adding that six others were injured, including an 88-year-old woman and an 11-year-old girl.
Russia executed three missile launches and deployed 114 drones targeting Ukraine overnight, according to a statement from Ukraine’s air force on Saturday. Of these, 66 drones were successfully intercepted, alongside 31 decoy drones that did not reach their intended targets.
Conversely, Russian air defenses reported the downing of 45 Ukrainian drones during the same timeframe, as stated by the country’s defense ministry.
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