Russian top general claims success in ‘Kursk liberation’ to Putin

This was reported by the Russian service of Interfax.

"Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported to Supreme Commander Vladimir Putin about the completion of the operation to liberate the Kursk region," said Russian leader spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

It should be noted that the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's update as of 08:00 a.m. reported that the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold off the Russians on the Kursk front.

"Yesterday, the Russian forces carried out 28 airstrikes, dropping 37 guided bombs, and fired 370 times, including 9 times from multiple launch rocket systems. Ukrainian defenders stopped 30 assault attempts by Russian forces," the report stated.

Reaction of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that Gerasimov’s claims are not true, as the defensive operation of Ukraine’s Defense Forces in designated areas of the Kursk region continues.

"The defensive operation of Ukraine’s Defense Forces in designated areas of the Kursk region is ongoing. The operational situation is difficult, but our units continue to hold their assigned positions and fulfill their tasks, while effectively striking the enemy with all types of weapons, including employing active defense tactics," the statement reads.

According to the General Staff, since the beginning of the day, Defense Forces have repelled five enemy assault actions in the Kursk direction, and another engagement is currently ongoing.

"There is no threat of encirclement of our units. The enemy leadership’s claims about the 'defeat' of the Ukrainian military grouping are nothing but a propaganda ploy and an attempt to present wishful thinking as reality," the General Staff added.

• Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation reported that Russian propaganda was spreading false claims online, alleging that soldiers of Ukraine’s 95th Brigade refused to follow orders and abandoned their positions in Russia’s Kursk region.