Shoigu-No Discussions w/Ukraine Until Removed From Russian Territory

Sergei Shoigu, former defence minister and current Secretary of the National Security Council claims that 'Ukraine wanted to distract Russian forces from advancing in Donbas by attacking the Kursk region, but we have enough forces to continue our offensive.' Also claims that Russia has captured 'almost 1,000 sq km' of the Donbas in August and September to date.

• Shoigu also claimed that “Naturally, we won’t have any negotiations with them [Ukraine] until we throw them out of our territory,” referring to the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk. As the independent Moscow Times reports, "Shoigu’s remarks appear to contradict President Vladimir Putin’s recent claim that he “never refused” to negotiate with Kyiv "
• The Russian Ministry of Defence said earlier that it had captured four settlementswithin the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, saying "As a result of decisive actions by units of the Southern Group of Forces, the settlements of Krasnogorovka and Grigorovka have been liberated,"