TRANSCRIPT
The mayor of Moscow says Russian Air Defence systems have repelled a Ukrainian drone strike on Moscow as Russian President Vladimir Putin travels through the Caucasus region.
The news comes as Ukraine's seizure of territory in Russia's Kursk region continues, with Ukrainian forces attempting to create a buffer zone along it's border with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the incursion into Russian territory marks significant progress.
UKRAINIAN THEN ENGLISH: “Ukrainian warriors continue the defensive operation in designated areas of the Kursk region. As of today, our forces control more than 1,250 square kilometres of enemy territory and 92 settlements. We continue to strengthen our positions, stabilise designated areas, and, what is very important, replenish the exchange fund for Ukraine. Overall, this operation has become our largest investment in the process of liberating Ukrainian men and women from Russian captivity - we have already captured the largest number of Russian prisoners in a single operation, and this is a significant result, and this is one of our goals, and our actions continue.”
The Russian Military also says it's forces have taken control of Niu-York [[New-York]] in Eastern Ukraine.
While Russia's control of Niu-York is unconfirmed, the Ukrainian military says the situation in Eastern Ukraine remains tense.
Russia has also announced the formation of new military groupings in Kursk and two other border regions, weakening the efforts of Ukraine to divert Russian forces from Eastern Ukraine.
At least 120,000 Russians are reported to have evacuated from the border regions since the Ukrainian incursion on August 6th.
Mr Zelenskyy says Ukraine's allies should remove all restrictions on the use of weapons needed to protect Ukraine.
UKRAINIAN THEN ENGLISH: “If partners removed all existing restrictions on the use of weapons on Russian territory, we would not need physical entry, particularly into the Kursk region, to protect our Ukrainian citizens in the border area and destroy Russia's potential for aggression. However, for now, we cannot use all the weapons available to us and destroy Russian terrorists where they are. Russian military bases and Russian military airfields, Russian logistics and other military facilities, whose existence allows Putin to avoid seeking peace, are entirely legitimate targets for our Defence Forces.”
Currently, there are restrictions on American-supplied weapons which limit the use of long-range missiles.
The restrictions make clear that Ukraine is not allowed to use the long-range weapons to hit targets deep inside of Russia.
Instead limiting their use to targets in the Russian area of Kharkiv (har-keev) and only so it can hit Russian forces just over the border if they are preparing to strike Ukraine.
Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder says while Russia is moving limited forces into the Kursk region, they are struggling in their response.
"We're continuing to have the discussions with the Ukrainians in terms of their focus. You heard President Zelenskyy say it was to create a buffer zone. So we're having those conversations to learn more about what their objectives are. Again, if you take a step back from a US perspective, our focus continues to be enabling Ukraine to be a free and sovereign country that can deter Russian aggression in the future. And so that continues to be our focus, as it relates to their operation in Kursk, as I mentioned, they clearly, have compelled the Russians to struggle in their response. It has certainly demonstrated the creativity and the battlefield prowess of the Ukrainians. But when it comes to what their longer term objectives are here, that's something that we're still discussing with them."
Most recently, Russia says Ukrainian forces have destroyed a third bridge in the Kursk region, as they continue a cross-border campaign to sever vital supply lines.
The loss of the bridge in the village of Karyzh [[car-ITCH]] on the River Seym, follows the destruction of two others in the towns of Zvannoe and Glushkovo.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Ukraine's actions in Kursk amount to terrorism.
RUSSIAN THEN ENGLISH VO: "The same way we fought with terrorists previously, now we fight with those who commit crimes in Kursk region, Donbass and Novorossiya. But the same way we achieved our goals in the fight against terrorism, we will achieve our goals in the fight against neo-nazism. And we will certainly punish the criminals, there can be no doubt about that."
Mr Putin has compared the incursion of Kursk to an attack on a school in Beslan in September 2004, which saw 334 killed, including 186 children.
Currently visiting Chechnya, Mr Putin is inspecting Chechen troops the Kremlin say are readying to fight in Ukraine.
Russia is now also accusing NATO countries of assisting Ukrainian forces in their incursion of Kursk.
Mr Putin says international forces are attempting to destabilise Russia.
RUSSIAN THEN ENGLISH VO: “We know well that those from abroad tried not only to justify this terrible crime, but also provided terrorists with all kinds of assistance: moral, political, informational, financial, and military."
Russia's foreign intelligence agency says it has reliable information on assertions claiming Ukraine's operation was prepared with the assistance of U-S, U-K and Polish intelligence services.
The White House has previously stated that it had no advance notice of Kyiv's planned advance into Kursk.
