Zelensky says Ukraine has captured key Russian town

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said Ukraine has captured the key town of Sudzha in the Russian Kursk region, providing his forces with an important foothold as troops continue to surge across Russia.

Ukraine’s commander in chief, Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported the capture of Sudzha during a Thursday briefing, Zelensky said in a video address.

Ukraine is setting up a commandant’s office in the town, Zelensky said, while more than 80 settlements in Kursk have now fallen to advancing Ukrainian troops.

“I thank every warrior of ours who ensures all this,” Zelensky said.

Moscow has not yet commented on Ukraine’s claims. Russian military bloggers are continuing to report fighting across Kursk, including in and around Sudzha, though Ukrainian forces have pressured the town for more than a week and have been close to taking it for days.

Sudzha will bolster Ukrainian troops in Kursk as they continue to advance through the Russian region, where they mounted a surprise attack on Aug. 6.

Russia has struggled to beat back the Ukrainian advance, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin holding security meetings and ordering border guards and the military to repel the attacks.

Kyiv claimed earlier this week that some 386 square miles have already been taken in Kursk.

Besides Sudzha, Ukraine is advancing northwest and southeast of the town in multiple directions, threatening Russian forces across a long and new battleground.

Ukrainian officials have said they do not plan to hold Russia’s territory, but the offensive could divert Russian troops from the front lines of eastern Ukraine and ease up pressure there.

Ukraine has also captured dozens of prisoners to be used in exchanges with Russia, and any territory they hold in Kursk would be important in negotiations.