Moscow's military says it troops have recaptured a major town in Russia's western Kursk region

Russian forces have retaken control of Sudzha, a major town in Russia's western Kursk region, from Ukrainian troops, the Defence Ministry said on Thursday.

Moscow's troops had also recaptured two other villages, Melovoi and Podol, the ministry said. Reuters could not independently confirm those reports.

The recapture of Sudzha, home to a now-idle metering station for Russian gas to Europe, is a significant gain for Russia as it battles to eject Ukrainian forces from their foothold in Kursk, which they have been clinging to since last August.

President Vladimir Putin, dressed in military fatigues, visited Russian troops in Kursk on Wednesday and ordered them to press their lightning advance and swiftly retake the rest of the Ukrainian-held territory.

Copied