Kursk incursion forces holding out against Russian counterattacks, says Zelensky
Ukraine's armed forces are holding their positions in Russia's Kursk region – despite heavy fighting and counterattacks by Moscow.
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, his troops have been able to fend off Russian assaults, and he acknowledged that the purpose of the incursion was to draw Moscow's attention away from frontline positions in eastern Ukraine.
Despite the advance into Russia's border, forces operating in Ukraine have reportedly captured Ostrivske, a key target in Putin's advance through the Donetsk region.
The Ukrainian president said that the operation in Kursk had seen attempts by Russia to push back against the incursion. However, his troops were holding their positions.
Russia's defence ministry said that its forces had recaptured two villages in the border Kursk region.
Mr Zelensky said that in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, partly held by Russian forces, "there are very difficult conditions, with harsh enemy actions".
"But the resilience of our units is crucial. Everything depends on our resilience."
It's been reported two people have been killed in a Russian air strike on villages near Kurakhove, in the Donetsk region.
The General Staff of Ukraine's military said 47 clashes have occurred around Kurakhove and 27 more in the Pokrovsk sector to the northwest.
It has also been reported that 14 assaults have been launched by Russia, assisted by air strikes in Toretsk, in the northeast.
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