Zelensky says Kiev now controls large area in Russia

Ukraine has made further gains in its counteroffensive in the Russian region of Kursk, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday.

"As of today, our forces control over 1,250 square kilometres of the enemy's territory and 92 settlements," Zelensky said during a speech before Ukrainian diplomats and officials.

Zelensky's figures on the territorial gains exceed most previous estimates by military observers and are difficult to confirm. Most experts admit the inaccuracy of their estimates due to the limited amount of visual material. In particular, the Ukrainian armed forces publish very little in order to avoid jeopardizing their advance.

In his speech, Zelensky noted that a key tactical objective - reducing the threat to Ukraine's Sumy border region - had been successfully achieved. He also highlighted that the offensive had led to the largest capture of Russian soldiers since the war began.

Zelensky mentioned that these captured soldiers are expected to be exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners of war. However, observers estimate that Russia has taken more Ukrainian prisoners than Ukraine has captured Russian soldiers throughout the conflict.

Zelensky described the offensive as a great success and said critics would have deemed a counteroffensive on Russian soil as crossing "the strictest of all the red lines that Russia has."

Ukraine, which has been fending off a full-scale Russian invasion for nearly two and a half years, launched a counteroffensive around a fortnight ago, advancing into the western Russian region of Kursk. Russia continues to occupy large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine.