Ukraine Claims to Have Taken Over 1000 Sq Km Russian Territory

Ukraine’s army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on Monday claimed that Kyiv has taken over control of around 1,000 sq km of Russia’s Kursk region.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy uploaded a video excerpt of Syrskyi’s report on Telegram. Zelenskiy added that he has ordered the preparation of a “humanitarian plan” for the area.

Meanwhile, Russian state media quoted the governor of the Kursk region, Alexei Smirnov, as saying that Ukrainian forces had used shells containing chemical weapons during their incursion in Kursk region.

In retaliation, Ukraine’s State Security Service (SBU) said Russia was trying to falsely accuse Kyiv’s military of war crimes.

The SBU said it had information showing Russia might stage crimes for which it would blame Ukraine.