Russia says its troops have regained control over the villages of Zaoleshenka and Rubanshchina as Moscow intensifies efforts to reclaim lost territory.
Russia announced on Saturday that its forces had retaken two more villages—Zaoleshenka and Rubanshchina—in the western Kursk border region, where it has been conducting an offensive to reclaim land previously seized by Ukraine.
The Russian defense ministry confirmed that the villages, located north and west of the town of Sudzha, were now under its control. This follows Moscow’s broader push throughout the week to regain parts of the region that had been captured by Ukrainian forces. Sudzha, a key town in the area, was reclaimed by Russia earlier this week.
On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Ukrainian troops stationed in Kursk to surrender, offering guarantees of safety. “If they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and dignified treatment,” Putin stated. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump urged Moscow to spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the severity of the situation, describing the battlefield conditions in Kursk as “obviously very difficult.” A map published by the Ukrainian army on social media indicated that its forces had retreated westward toward the border.
Sources By Agencies
