The sudden surge in Kursk: Ukrainian forces dismantle Russian flag

Since last week, battles have been ongoing between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the Kursk region in Russia. By Saturday, over 84,000 people had already been evacuated.

On Friday, Russian authorities introduced the "anti-terrorist operation regime" in the Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk regions bordering Ukraine, allowing the use of "necessary measures and temporary restrictions."

Now, Ukrainian television has broadcast a recording showing Ukrainian defenders taking down the Russian tricolour flag from one of the buildings in the city of Sudzha in the Kursk region, which is about 10 kilometres from the border with the Sumy region.

Belsat notes that, according to the Kadyrovtsy commander, Apti Alaudinov, the city is not under Ukrainian control. However, the 1+1 Ukraine television channel aired a report from the Kursk region, where journalist Natalia Nahornaja reported on the moment when Ukrainian soldiers removed the Russian flag from a building in Sudzha, according to the Donbass.Realii channel, it was an administrative building.

"We are in Sudzha, at this historic moment when the Russian flag falls to the ground," you can hear the journalist's voice on the recording.

Meanwhile, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, said on Wednesday at 11:00 AM ET: "In the Kursk region, we are advancing further. From one to two kilometres in different areas from the start of the day. And over 100 captured Russian soldiers in the same period," he said, adding that he "is grateful to everyone involved."

The Chief Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrsky, reportedly informed Zelensky that the enemy's destruction in Sudzha had been completed. "The search and destruction of the enemy in Sudzha has been completed," he reported to the Ukrainian president.