Ukraine incursion has strengthened, says Zelensky

Ukrainian troops are “strengthening” positions in captured territory in Russia and expanding further, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

Ukrainian soldiers are two weeks into their incursion in Russia’s Kursk region – their deepest since Moscow launched its full scale invasion more than two years ago.

Troops are continuing to advance further into Kursk, the force said in its daily report.

Moscow has called the incursion a major provocation and vowed to retaliate with a “worthy response”.

In a statement on messaging app Telegram, President Zelensky said: “Thank you to all the soldiers and commanders who are taking Russian military prisoners and bringing the release of our soldiers and civilians held by Russia closer.

“General Syrskyi also reported on strengthening our forces’ positions in the Kursk region and expanding the stabilised territory.”

Russia said its forces had repelled the Ukrainians near three settlements in the Kursk region and were searching for “mobile enemy groups” trying to pierce deeper into the country.

Kyiv claims to have taken control of more than 80 settlements in the incursion.

His latest statement comes after Ukraine destroyed a strategically important bridge over the river Seym this week.

The bridge had been used by the Kremlin to supply its troops and its destruction could hamper those efforts.

The Russian foreign ministry said the bridge was “completely destroyed” and volunteers assisting the evacuated civilian population were killed.

However, as Ukraine moves further into western Russian territory, Russian forces are equally making gains in Ukraine’s east and have claimed a string of towns in recent weeks.

Russia attacked at least four Ukrainian regions on Saturday, according to Ukrainian officials, including the north-eastern region of Kharkiv.

Mr Zelensky said on Saturday there had been “dozens of Russian assaults” on Ukrainian positions near the cities of Toretsk and Pokrovsk.

Pokrovsk is a vital logistics hub that sits on a main road for supplies to Ukrainian troops along the eastern front.

“Our soldiers and units are doing everything to destroy the occupier and repel the attacks,” the Ukrainian president said, stressing the situation was “under control”.