Russia says its forces captured additional village east of Ukraine
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The Russian Defense Ministry also announces that Moscow and Kiev have conducted a mutual exchange of 103 prisoners of war (POWs).
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In this photo taken from a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, a Russian soldier stands next to a damaged Ukrainian military vehicle in the Russian-Ukrainian border area in the Kursk region, Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service photo via AP)
The Russian armed forces have eliminated more than 13,100 Ukrainian troops and 110 tanks during military operations in the border areas of the Kursk region, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Saturday.
“Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian armed forces have lost more than 300 servicemen and 15 armored vehicles, including two tanks, an armored personnel carrier and 12 armored combat vehicles, as well as two artillery pieces, an engineering vehicle for clearing obstacles and five cars," the Ministry confirmed in a statement.
"Five Ukrainian servicemen have been taken captive,” it added.
The statement pointed out that Russian forces have repelled five Ukrainian attempts to cross the state border, noting that Kiev has lost up to 40 people and two tanks in battles.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Sever (North) group of troops continues its offensive in the Kursk region and has defeated the Ukrainian forces in six settlements, the ministry mentioned.
Read more: Kiev's Kursk offensive prerequisite for nuclear strike: Medvedev
Russian forces capture Zhelanne Pershe settlement in DPR
Moreover, the Ministry announced that Russia's Yug (South) group of forces has taken control of the settlement of Zhelannoe Pervoe, also known as Zhelanne Pershe, in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) "as a result of active and decisive actions."
It said that Ukrainian forces have lost up to 110 soldiers in the Liptsovsky and Volchansky directions.
Russia’s Battlegroup Vostok formations have strengthened their positions along the front line, with the Ukrainian forces losing as many as 105 soldiers and an ammunition depot, the statement said.
Russian air defenses shot down nine ATACMS missiles, four guided Hammer missiles, and 53 Ukrainian drones over the past 24-hour period, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
In the same vein, the Ministry mentioned that Russia's Zapad (West) group of forces has eliminated up to 520 Ukrainian service people over the past 24 hours.
“The enemy's losses amounted to 520 servicemen, six vehicles, a 155 mm UK-made self-propelled artillery unit Braveheart, two 122 mm self-propelled artillery Gvozdika units and two electronic warfare stations," it highlighted in a statement.
Russia’s Yug (South) group of forces also repelled two Ukrainian counterattacks while Kiev has lost up to 715 soldiers in battles, the Ministry added.
In addition, Ukraine lost up to 560 soldiers in battles with Russia's Tsentr (Center) group of troops, while Russia repelled three Ukrainian counterattacks.
Elsewhere, Russian troops have also hit an airfield infrastructure of the Ukrainian armed forces, as well as boat bases of the Ukrainian special operations forces, the Ministry announced.
Read more: Russia captures new town in Donetsk, inflicts heavy losses on Kiev
Russia, Ukraine swap total of 206 POWs
In a related context, the Russian Defense Ministry also announced on Saturday that Moscow and Kiev have conducted a mutual exchange of 103 prisoners of war, with the Russian soldiers now receiving care in Belarus.
The two sides have conducted more than 50 prisoner exchanges since the onset of the war in Ukraine over two years ago, even as hostilities persist.
"As a result of the negotiation process, 103 Russian servicemen who were taken prisoner in Kursk region have been returned from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime on 14 September 2024," the Ministry confirmed in a statement.
"In exchange, 103 AFU [armed forces of Ukraine] prisoners of war have been transferred," it added.
According to the statement, the retrieved Russian servicemen are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving necessary support.
The Russian Defense Ministry also noted that the United Arab Emirates played a humanitarian role in mediating the release of the Russian personnel.
The announcement comes just three weeks after Russia and Ukraine exchanged 115 prisoners of war each, in a deal that was also mediated by the United Arab Emirates.
In February, Russia and Ukraine confirmed the exchange of 100 prisoners each, marking their first swap since Moscow accused Kiev of downing a plane carrying captured Ukrainian soldiers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in June that 1,348 Russian soldiers were being held captive by Ukraine, while Russia had detained 6,465 Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Read more: Foreign mercs committing war crimes against Russian POWs
