Russia claims to have recaptured two more residential areas in Kursk province

“The Russian army continues its operation to defeat the enemy forces that have penetrated into the Kursk region and neutralize Ukrainian units,” the Russian Defense Ministry announced on September 16. “The Northern Army continues its offensive and has liberated the settlements of Uspenovka and Borki.”

Russian forces repelled five Ukrainian attacks in the past 24 hours and struck several enemy positions in Kursk province, while also stopping three attempts to attack across the border.

“The Russian military is continuing reconnaissance and search operations to identify and destroy enemy intelligence groups attempting to penetrate deep into Russian territory,” the statement said.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian forces lost more than 350 soldiers, two tanks, 11 armored vehicles and two rocket launchers, including an M270 MLRS complex, in the past 24 hours.

The agency said that since the attack on Kursk province on August 6, Ukraine has lost more than 13,800 soldiers, 115 tanks, 7 HIMARS artillery pieces and 6 MLRS complexes, along with hundreds of armored vehicles and many other combat vehicles.

Ukraine has not commented on the information. President Zelensky said on September 6 that 6,000 Russian soldiers were killed or wounded as a result of their operation in Kursk.

Ukraine announced in early September that it controlled an area of ​​more than 1,300 square kilometers with 100 villages in Kursk province, but many Russian Telegram pages denied this information.

The Russian military launched a counteroffensive in Kursk province last week. The Russian Defense Ministry announced on September 12 that its forces had recaptured 10 residential areas that Ukraine had seized in Kursk.

Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to make fierce advances in the Donbass region, especially on the front near the stronghold of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast. Pokrovsk is an important rail, road and logistics hub for Ukraine in the region. If Pokrovsk is captured, Russian forces will make a significant step toward their goal of controlling the entire Donetsk Oblast.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on September 13 that the operation in Kursk province slowed the advance of Russian forces in the Donbass region. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the operation weakened Ukraine’s defense line in the Donbass region.