The amount of territory seized by Russia is unclear, and both countries have made conflicting statements.
Major General Abti Alaudinov, commander of Chechen Akhmat special forces, told viewers of Russian state television Channel One that Russian troops had almost “completely blocked” the Ukrainian advance.
But Army Chief of Staff Oleksandr Sirsky said in a video message to President Zelensky that Ukrainian troops now had full control of the Kursk border town of Sudzha.
The BBC has been unable to independently verify this claim, but Ukrainian television reports filmed inside the town showed Ukrainian soldiers removing the Russian flag from the school.
As Kiev continues to claim sovereignty over the territory, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiz Tikhi has said the country is not interested in “acquiring” any Russian territory.
“The sooner Russia agrees to restore a just peace… the sooner the Ukrainian Defense Forces' air strikes against Russia will stop,” he told reporters.
President Zelensky said in an earlier meeting with government officials that he would consider establishing a “military command office” in the region.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk outlined plans to establish a “safe zone” in Kursk to protect Ukraine’s borders.
In a Telegram post, she said Ukraine would organize humanitarian assistance for Russian civilians inside the security zone and open evacuation routes to both Russia and Ukraine.
