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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that Ukrainian forces have fully captured the strategic town of Sudzha in Russia’s Kursk region.

What Zelensky said: In an address to the nation, President Zelenskyy said, “There has been new progress. Our ‘exchange fund’ [referring to capturing prisoners of war] has been further replenished. Additionally, General Syrskyi reported the successful liberation of the city of Sudzha from Russian forces. A Ukrainian military commandant’s office is being established there. Several other settlements have also been liberated. In total, more than 80.”

Russia denies capture: In a statement, Russian Major-General Apty Alaudinov claimed, “There are units from the Russian Defense Ministry, too, in Sudzha now, as the enemy is in and around certain parts of the town. Active fighting has been taking place daily there. The enemy cannot claim full control of Sudzha because they [Ukrainian troops] do not actually control it.”

Digging Deeper: The acting governor of the Kursk region, Alexei Smirnov, has ordered the evacuation of the Glushkovo region, located roughly 27 miles northwest of the contested town of Sudzha. Some analysts say this indicates that Ukrainian forces are still making significant advances in the area.

Comment from White House: National Security Coordinator John Kirby said that Putin has “some level of concern” related to the Ukrainian advancements in Russia. He added, “We have seen some Russian units being redirected from operations in and around Ukraine to the Kursk area.”