Ukrainian Forces Seize Control of Russian Border Town

Ukraine's state television aired a report showing Ukrainian troops pulling down a Russian flag from an official building in the town of Sudzha in Russia's Kursk region.

A video that state television said was filmed shows a three-storey building in the border town of Sudzha and three Ukrainian soldiers taking and pulling down a Russian flag shouting "Glory to Ukraine".

A state TV correspondent in the town said Ukrainian forces were in full control of Sudzha, a key gas transshipment hub.

Thousands of Ukrainian troops rammed through the Russian border in the early hours of Aug. 6 into Russia's western Kursk region. Russian forces have so far failed to expel them after more than a week of intense battles.

The video also showed a column of burnt-out Russian vehicles at the entrance to Sudzha. It also showed empty streets with shops and official buildings undamaged.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he held a meeting on the security and humanitarian situation in Russia's Kursk region where the Ukrainian military has been advancing in an unprecedented cross-border assault.

"Security, humanitarian aid, creation of military administrations if necessary," he said, posting a video of the meeting with Kyiv's top officials.

Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said after the meeting Ukraine was creating a "security zone" in Russia's Kursk region and plans to organize humanitarian assistance and evacuation corridors for civilians looking to go either to Russia or to Ukraine.

She added on Telegram that Ukraine planned to organize access to the area for international humanitarian organizations as well.

Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry released footage of what it said is combat work of Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jet in the Kursk region.

The Ukrainian forces carved out a slice of Russian territory, prompting Moscow to evacuate almost 200,000 people while it rushed in reserves.

Russian war bloggers reported intense battles across the Kursk front.