Putin Says Russia Maintains Momentum in Donbass Despite Ukraine's Kursk Incursion

The situation in the Donbas region and the Kursk region is complex and dynamic. Russian forces are advancing towards the town of Pokrovsk, with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (FAFR) making daily gains of 500 meters to 1 kilometer on several axes. This has led to problems in the organization of the Ukrainian defense. In contrast, Ukrainian forces have been making gains in the Kursk region, pushing into Russian territory and advancing up to 2 kilometers in some areas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claims that Ukraine's incursion into Kursk is an attempt to slow Russia's advance in the Donbas region of Ukraine, which he considers Moscow's main objective in the full-scale war launched in 2022. However, Putin also states that Ukraine's diversion of troops to Kursk has left parts of Donetsk vulnerable, and that Russian forces are likely to take over Pokrovsk soon.