Military Head-Ukraine To Establish Military Office In Kursk Region

Wires carrying comments from Oleksandr Syrskyii, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, saying that a military commandant's office has been set up in the part of the Kursk oblast occupied by Ukrainian forces. The establishment of such offices could be a signal that Ukraine may attempt to make its military incursion into the Russian Federation a permanent (or at least long-lasting) scenario. Claims that Ukraine's forces have advanced 35km into the Kursk oblast since the start of the incursion, with 1,150sqkm under Ukrainian control amounting to 82 settlements. These numbers have not been verified by Western outlets yet.

• Syrskyii also says the situation in the Donbas 'remains tense' but is 'under control'.
• Comes after Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov convened a meeting on the situation in the border regions. Says that the military general staff have 'prepared additional measures' to protect the Belgorod oblast bordering Kursk as well as Ukraine.