Putin Orders Russian Defense Ministry to "Drive Out Enemy" from Kursk Region

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin held a meeting on the situation in the Kursk region and instructed the Ministry of Defense of Russia to "drive the enemy" out of its territory. This was reported by the Russian propaganda agency RIA Novosti on Monday, August 12.

"The main task for the Ministry of Defense is to push, drive the enemy out of our territories and, together with the border guard, ensure reliable protection of the state border," he said.

Putin also claimed that Kyiv is using the fighting in the Kursk region to "improve its position ahead of possible negotiations," but he ruled out the possibility of negotiations altogether.

Russian dictator reported about the “incredibly rapid” progress of Russian troops along the front line. At the same time, the governor of the Kursk region reported that the situation in the region "remains difficult" and acknowledged the loss of control over 28 settlements.

On August 12, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, where he for the first time directly wrote that Ukraine is conducting an operation in the Kursk region of Russia.

Currently, about 1,000 km² of the territory of the Russian Federation is under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.