Russia claims it has regained full control of Corsak from Ukraine

The Russian army says it has regained full control of the western Kursk region in the country – a claim that Ukraine denied.

Russian commander Valerie Girassemov said that the last village held by the Ukrainian forces had now been restored – eight months later Sudden kyiv penetration.

He also praised the “North Korean Forces” “Championship” during the Russian counter -attack, the first time that Russia has publicly recognized its participation. Russian President Vladimir Putin described Ukraine’s efforts in Kursk as a complete failure.

Ukraine says its forces still run operations in the Russian border area, as the army described Moscow’s demands as “propaganda tricks.”

The Ukrainian forces have been in Kirk in recent monthsIn the face of 70,000 Russian soldiers and heavy drone attacks as part of Russia’s campaign to restore the region.

“The Russian forces recently advanced near the international border in Korsk Oblast [region] As part of the efforts made to pay the Ukrainian forces from their remaining positions in the area. “

ISW also stated that “the fighting continued [Russia’s] Northwest of Baljuod Oblast [region] On April 25.

During a video conference meeting with Putin on Saturday, Gerasimov said: “Today, the last settlement in the Kursk region, the village of Journal, was liberated from the Ukrainian forces.”

Girassemov said that more than 76,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and injured in the Kursk region – a non -verified claim independently.

The North Korean forces also praised the provision of “great assistance in the defeat of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Group.”

“The adventure of the Kiev regime has completely failed,” said Putin Gerasimov in response, claiming that it would pave the way for more Russian progress on other fronts.

The Russian army says that its forces now control many settlements in the northeastern Sumi region in Ukraine, which is located next to Kursk.

In response to a post on a telegram, the general staff of the Ukrainian army said The situation in the battlefield was “difficult” – But he insisted that its forces are still occupying positions in Korsk and continuing to penetrate into the Baljuod area, which is located directly south of Kursk.

Ukraine’s incursion was launched last August as an attempt to establish a buffer zone on the border between the two countries that would prevent the deployment of Russian forces on the eastern confrontation line in Ukraine.

This comes a day after US President Donald Trump said that Russia and Ukraine were “very close to the deal” to end the war, in the wake of talks between his envoy Steve Whistov and Putin this week.

But Trump on Saturday Putin’s doubts about to end the warReferring to Russia’s attacks on Kiev earlier this week, which killed at least 12 people and wounded 90 others.

His comments followed a meeting with Ukrainian President Folodimir Zellinsky on the sidelines of the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican-the first face to face since the confrontation of the severe oval office in February.

The White House struck a more positive tone on a meeting on Saturday, while Zelinski described sitting as “a very symbolic meeting that has the ability to become historic, if we achieve common results.”

Ukraine leader BBC told Friday that he was pushing for a “full and unconditional shooting” before any deal was concluded.

Kiev has faced increasing pressure from Trump to accept regional concessions as part of any deal with Moscow to end the fighting, which could include abandoning the Crimea Peninsula, which was illegally joined by Russia in 2014.

Zelensky has repeatedly rejected any such concessions.

Ukraine was hoping to be able to use the land he seized in the Kursk region as a bargaining in future peace talks with Russia, which launched its full invasion in 2022 and It currently controls about 20 % of internationally recognized lands in Ukraine.