Kremlin claims that Ukrainian troops have been expelled from Kursk

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The Kremlin has stated that all Ukrainian troops have been expelled from the Kursk region of Russia and for the first time they have confirmed the role of northern Korea soldiers in the fighting.

The head of the Staff Vary Gerasimov informed President Vladimir Putin on Saturday that Ukraine forces in Kursk had been repelled, nine months after his surprise to his surprise, which was the first for a foreign army in Russian territory since World War II. Gerasimov stated that Ukraine had suffered “great losses”.

“The adventure of the Kyiv regime has failed completely,” Putin said in an orchestra -careful video meeting on state television.

Ukraine contradicted the version of Russia’s events; A senior official told The Financial Times that Putin’s claim was “Bullshit”. The official insisted that Kiev’s forces are still in the Kursk region, although the amount of territory he controls has fallen to about 30 square km from the approximately 1,300 square meters that captured in August.

Kremlin’s claim came when U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, briefly met the Vatican before the Pope Francis funeral. It was the first time they have been seen in person from their explosive meeting at the Oval Office in February.

Trump said that Russia and Ukraine were “very close” to agree to an agreement after their special envoy Steve Witkoff met in Putin in Moscow on Friday for a fourth round of conversations.

But Putin seemed to suggest on Saturday that he intended to continue the war. “The complete defeat of the enemy in the Kursk border area creates conditions for more successful actions of our troops in other important areas of the front,” he told Gerasimov.

Gerasimov praised North Korea’s troops for his courage, saying they fought “the shoulder on their shoulder” with his Russian comrades. According to the Ukrainian governments, south -Coreans and North -Americans, more than 12,000 northern Korea troops were deployed. Moscow had not previously recognized his presence.

Ukraine’s general staff said that Russia’s claims “do not correspond to reality”, calling “a propagandistic treatment” and “desireful thought”.

He said his “defensive operation … in certain areas of the Kursk region.” “The operational situation is difficult, but our units continue to maintain certain positions and carry out assigned tasks, while also causing effective damage to the fire to the enemy of all types of weapons, including active defense tactics.”

He said that five enemy assaults had been repelled and there was another battle, adding that there was no threat to circle their units, which also remain in the Belgorod region of Russia. This operation is small compared to Kursk, but; Zelenskyy said that the goal is to create a “buffer area” to avoid future Russian aggressions in the region.

Ukraine shocked Russia last August, when its forces stormed the Kursk border, taking advantage of the surprise element to bring the war to Russia, to take hundreds of war prisoners and a piece of land, including the city of Sudzha.

The army was ready to take the risk of trying to take advantage of the boost of the battlefield. While increasing morality and led to the release of hundreds of Ukrainian prisoners of war, Zelenskyy’s goal to keep in the territory as a negotiation chip has flown.

On Saturday, Russian officials gave North Korea much of the credit for their role in receding Ukraine forces, with Gerasimov praising their troops for their “heroism” in battle.

North soldiers -Coreans were successful in assaulting the Ukrainian front line in small groups endorsed by artillery and air support. They quickly became known for their determination and fidelity to their leader, Kim Jong one. Ukraine captured two, who are imprisoned in Kyiv.

Pyongyang had also provided Moscow more than 200 Howiters self -propelled by 170 mm M1989 and updated multiple launching rocket systems of 240 mm for the fight in the Kursk region, according to Ukrainian intelligence shared with FT.

“We will never forget our friends,” wrote the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, wrote on social media in praise of Pyongyang’s contribution to war.