Russia has claimed to have retaken control of the villages Uspenovka and Borki in the Kursk region from Ukraine, a development the Defence Ministry described as part of a significant counter-offensive. However, this claim remains unverified by independent sources, and Ukraine asserts it still controls around 100 villages in the region, covering more than 1,300 square kilometers. The fighting in Kursk intensified after Ukraine launched a large-scale attack on August 6, perceived as the most significant foreign assault on Russian soil since World War II. Russian forces are also advancing towards Pokrovsk, a crucial logistical hub for Ukraine, which could further Russia's goal of complete control over the Donetsk region. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy has stated that the Kursk incursion has slowed Russian advances in eastern Ukraine, while President Putin contends it has distracted Ukraine from its eastern defenses. Additionally, both nations recently conducted prisoner exchanges involving hundreds of soldiers.