Russia breaks through Ukrainian lines on the Kursk front: They have launched an offensive 'in every direction'

Colonel General Sergey Rudskoy, First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, reported that more than 800 square kilometers of territory have been brought under control in response to Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region. Claiming that Ukrainian front lines have 'collapsed,' Rudskoy stated that Russian troops are advancing in every direction in the area.

It was alleged that Ukraine's occupation operation in Russia's Kursk region has failed. While Russia maintains that a 'large part' of Kursk has been liberated, it was announced that Russian troops have entered Ukrainian territory from the direction of Kursk.

According to a Reuters report, Rudskoy noted that Russia has brought 75 percent of the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, and more than 99 percent of the Luhansk region, under its control. He stated that these regions now legally belong to Russia and will not be returned to Ukraine.

Russia announced that a general offensive along the eastern front is 'continuing to gain strength' following the loss of positions by Ukrainian troops. Russian officials, who claim that Ukrainian units are retreating, underscored that they will not return the lands they have captured.

Sharing information that air forces and naval infantry have been sent to the region to repel Ukraine's attack, Rudskoy stated the following:

''More than 800 square kilometers of territory, corresponding to approximately 64 percent of the 1,268 square kilometers initially captured by Ukraine, have been liberated.''

PUTIN: 'WE HAVE ENTERED UKRAINIAN TERRITORY'

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a statement to journalists in St. Petersburg, said, 'The 810th Brigade has crossed the Russia-Ukraine border and entered enemy territory.' Putin emphasized that the units are advancing along the contact line.

On the other hand, Rudskoy stated that Russia liberated approximately 4,500 square kilometers of territory in 2024, and that an additional 600 square kilometers of territory have been brought under control in the first two months of this year.

Rudskoy said the future of the war depends on whether the West creates a new European security architecture that takes Russia's interests into account. Claiming that Ukraine has lost the ability to change the situation on the battlefield, Rudskoy alleged that Ukraine's losses have exceeded 1 million people.

The Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine characterized Putin's statements as 'misinformation.' The Ukrainian side claimed that it maintains its positions in the Kursk region.