Russia seizes key settlements in Kursk and Sumy, inflicts heavy losses
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Russia's forces have seized key settlements in Ukraine's Sumy and Donetsk regions, inflicting heavy losses on Ukrainian troops, while continuing their offensive across multiple fronts.
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In this photo taken from a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, Russian soldiers ride atop an Akatsyia self-propelled gun on an undisclosed location in eastern Ukraine (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
Russia's Sever (North) group of forces has seized control of the settlement of Lebedevka in the Kursk Region and Novenkoye (Novenke) in Ukraine’s Sumy Region, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Sunday.
"During offensive operations, units of the Sever group of forces liberated the settlement of Lebedevka in the Kursk Region and the settlement of Novenkoye in the Sumy Region," the statement stated.
The ministry further reported that Ukrainian forces lost over 350 personnel in the Kursk direction over the past 24 hours.
"Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian armed forces lost more than 350 servicepeople, one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, five armored personnel carriers, 19 armored fighting vehicles, 29 motor vehicles, six field artillery guns, one mortar, one electronic warfare station, one Israeli-made RADA radar station, an engineering vehicle for clearing obstacles, as well as 11 UAV command posts and one ammunition depot were destroyed," the statement detailed.
Additionally, six Ukrainian soldiers surrendered, according to the ministry.
According to Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's military continues to make gains in the Kursk Region.
"The lid of the smoking cauldron is almost closed. The advance continues. Keep it up!" Medvedev wrote on Telegram, commenting on the ongoing Russian offensive in the region.
Russian forces take control of Kostyantynopil in DPR
In the same context, the ministry said Russia’s Vostok (East) group of forces has captured the settlement of Konstantinopol (Kostyantynopil) in the Donetsk People’s Republic, with Ukrainian losses in the area surpassing 145 personnel.
The Ukrainian forces also lost one armored fighting vehicle, one motor vehicle, and three field artillery guns, including a Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, the statement noted.
The ministry indicated that Russian forces have now secured a foothold in Konstantinopol, inflicting further casualties on Ukrainian troops, with over 50 personnel killed.
It mentioned that artillery and strike drone units, including those equipped with munition drop systems, were deployed to support the assault and target Ukrainian positions.
Tsentr, Zapad, Yug, and Dnepr groups inflict heavy losses
In addition, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that its Tsentr (Center) group of forces eliminated up to 580 Ukrainian personnel over the past 24 hours.
"The enemy lost up to 580 servicepeople, two M113 armored personnel carriers and a US-made MaxxPro combat armored vehicle, a French-made VAB armored personnel carrier, four vehicles and four artillery pieces," the ministry stated.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Zapad (West) group eliminated up to 255 Ukrainian personnel, while the Yug (South) group neutralized up to 250 soldiers, it added.
In the Kharkov direction, the ministry said that the Sever group killed up to 50 Ukrainian service members and disabled one communication station over the past day.
The Dnepr group of forces also eliminated up to 80 Ukrainian troops and destroyed one US-made HIMARS launcher, one US-made MLRS launcher, three ammunition depots, and one materiel storage facility, according to the ministry.
Moreover, Russian air defense systems intercepted a JDAM guided aerial bomb, two rockets from the US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launcher system, and 228 fixed-wing drones, including 99 outside the special military operation zone, the ministry confirmed.
It added that Russian forces also targeted gas processing facilities supporting Ukraine’s defense industry and military airfield infrastructure.
Read more: Russia rejects possible deployment of European peacekeepers in Ukraine
