Egypt Daily News – The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that following the liberation of the Kursk region, Russian forces are continuing to establish a “security belt” in the border areas of Ukraine’s Sumy region. In a statement, the ministry explained that units from the “North” group of forces managed to defeat formations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region during ongoing offensive operations. The town of Journale in the region was liberated, previously the last area under Ukrainian occupation. The ministry noted that work on the “security belt” continues in the border areas of Ukraine’s Sumy region.
The statement continued: “On the Belgorod and Kharkiv fronts, two brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and three regional defense brigades were repelled.”
The statement reviewed the results of the past week of Russian operations during the special military operation, noting that between April 26 and May 2 of this year, the Russian Armed Forces carried out seven mass strikes using high-precision weapons and attack drones.
These strikes destroyed Ukrainian military production facilities, military airport infrastructure, weapons and ammunition depots, electronic intelligence systems, drone and unmanned boat production and storage sites, as well as temporary deployment points for Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries.
The statement added that over the week, Ukrainian losses in the area of responsibility of the “North” group of forces exceeded 1,530 personnel. Two tanks, 32 armored combat vehicles, 104 vehicles, 52 field guns, four electronic warfare and counter-battery stations, and six ammunition depots were also destroyed.
It noted that as a result of actions taken by units from the “West” group of forces, the villages of Kamenka and Doroshivka in the Kharkiv region and Novoe in Donetsk were captured. Ukrainian losses amounted to over 1,630 troops, in addition to tanks, armored combat vehicles, field guns, and ammunition depots.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, units from the “South” group of forces captured important positions and lines, repelling formations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Ukrainian losses over the week exceeded 1,790 personnel, along with numerous armored combat vehicles, field guns, electronic warfare stations, and ammunition depots.
Units from the “Center” group of forces also strengthened their positions along the frontlines, targeting Ukrainian personnel and equipment, inflicting over 2,970 casualties and destroying several armored combat vehicles and field guns. Meanwhile, the “East” group of forces continued advancing into Ukrainian defensive lines, targeting Ukrainian formations and causing more than 1,220 casualties, as well as destroying armored combat vehicles, field guns, electronic warfare stations, and ammunition depots.
The statement also noted that the “Dnieper” group of forces inflicted losses of more than 600 Ukrainian troops, and destroyed armored vehicles, field guns, electronic warfare stations, and ammunition depots.
Additionally, the Russian Air Force shot down a Ukrainian Su-27 aircraft, along with guided aerial bombs, missiles, and 1,306 drones. The naval aviation of the Black Sea Fleet also destroyed unmanned boats in the Black Sea, according to the statement.
