A week after Ukraine's surprise cross-border attack on Russia's Kursk region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on August 13 that its troops "continue to repel attacks" by the enemy and have "disrupted raids by mobile groups in armored vehicles."

According to the ministry, Russian military units – including new reservists, aircraft, drone teams and artillery forces – prevented Ukrainian troops from gaining more territory near the settlements of Obshchy Kolodez, Snagost, Kauchuk and Alexeyevsky.

The presence of Russian military units was confirmed, at least to some extent, after Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas revealed that Moscow was moving troops from the Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad to Kursk.

However, Ukraine insists it is continuing its cross-border offensive, which began on August 6.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky late on August 13 posted footage of a video call with his top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrsky, in which Syrsky said Kiev now controls 74 settlements in Kursk and has gained another 40 square kilometers of territory in the past 24 hours.

Earlier, on August 12, Mr. Syrsky said that his army controlled about 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory.

“Fighting is ongoing along the entire front line,” Mr. Syrskyy said in a video posted on Mr. Zelensky’s Telegram channel on August 13. “The situation is under control, despite the high intensity of the fighting.”

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said the purpose of the cross-border military operation was to protect Ukraine from long-range attacks launched from this area.

The Ukrainian spokesman claimed that Russia had carried out more than 2,000 attacks from Kursk in recent months, using anti-aircraft missiles, artillery, mortars, drones, 255 glide bombs and more than 100 missiles.

More than 120,000 Russians have fled their homes in the border areas of the Kursk region. Ukraine said it was imposing travel restrictions in the Sumy region bordering the region due to “increased hostilities” and “sabotage activities”.

An AFP analysis of data provided by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) shows that Ukrainian troops have advanced through at least 800 square kilometres (308 square miles) of Russian territory as of August 12.

Amid Ukraine's cross-border offensive – the biggest on Russia since World War II – the US said it had "nothing to do with it".

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre denied on August 13 that US President Joe Biden had been informed before Kiev forces broke through the front line into Russia. Jean-Pierre told reporters that Ukraine itself should speak out about its military operations.

Mr. Biden spoke for the first time about this Ukrainian operation on August 13, saying that the attack was "creating a real dilemma" for the Russian President.

Mr Putin has said the Russian military will "knock out" the Ukrainian army, and Moscow will respond to Kiev with a "symmetrical response".

Mr Zelensky said “inspections and stabilisation measures” were being carried out in 74 settlements that he said the Ukrainian military had taken control of.

Russian authorities have yet to comment on Ukraine's claims, and independent verification is difficult given the ongoing fighting.

Kursk region Governor Alexey Smirnov said on August 12 that the situation in the border area was "difficult" and added that at that time there were 28 settlements under Ukrainian control.

Last week, heavy shelling in Kursk was followed by an incursion by Ukrainian infantry supported by tanks and armored vehicles into the border area, specifically near the town of Sudzha, about 10 km (6.2 mi) from the Ukrainian border.

Minh Duc (According to Digital Journal, Anadolu, Sky News)