Ukraine Claims to Control 500 Square Miles of Russia's Kursk Region

The chief of Ukraine's army said Tuesday that the country's troops control nearly 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russia's Kursk region.
Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi said that Ukraine has captured 594 Russian prisoners in its operation, which began Aug. 6 and caught Russia by surprise.
His claim could not be immediately confirmed.

"The enemy drags troops from other directions, in such way weakening them; They attempt to create a ring of defense around our offensive group of troops and plan counter-offensive actions," Syrskyi said, commenting on the situation in the Kursk region.