Russia claims start of fightback in Kursk region.

Russia’s defence ministry says its forces have recaptured 10 settlements seized by Ukrainian forces in a surprise incursion in Russia’s Kursk border region last month.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Russia had begun “counter-offensive actions, which is going in line with our Ukrainian plan”.

Russia said its “Units of the North” forces had reclaimed the settlements over two days in the area around Snagost, on the western flank of the area occupied by Ukraine in its campaign launched on 6 August.

The first indication of a counteroffensive had come from Chechen special forces commander, Maj Gen Apti Alaudinov.