Russia said Monday it had taken back control of Nikolayevo-Darino, a small village captured by Ukrainian troops during their cross-border offensive into the Kursk region last August.
Moscow was caught off guard when Kyiv began its incursion on August 6, 2024, but has steadily clawed back territory, halting Ukraine’s advance and rushing reinforcements to the area — including thousands of troops from its ally North Korea.
“In the course of offensive operations, units of the North group of troops liberated the settlement of Nikolayevo-Darino,” the Russian defense ministry said.
Nikolayevo-Darino is a tiny village of under 150 people that sits directly on the border.
Thousands of people have been evacuated from the Kursk region since Ukraine launched its incursion, while many others are trapped in Kyiv-held territory.
Ukraine says thousands of its own civilians are being held in areas seized and occupied by Moscow since its offensive began in February 2022, and that it is providing safe passage to Russians in territory it controls.
A Ukrainian army source told AFP last November that Kyiv still controlled 800 square kilometers (300 square miles) of the Russian border region, down from previous claims it controlled almost 1,400 square kilometers.
