70 settlements

Kyiv's forces have taken control of over 70 settlements inside Russia, according to military chief

From CNN's Olga Voitovych in Kyiv

Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi claimed Kyiv’s forces have taken control of over 40 square kilometers (over 15 square miles) inside Russia’s southwestern Kursk region in the past 24 hours.

“The Armed Forces of Ukraine continue operation on the territory of the Kursk region. Today, our troops advanced in separate directions from 1 to 3 kilometers,” Syrskyi said in a video call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday.  

“Control over 40 square kilometers of the territory was taken,” he added.

Syrskyi reiterated what Zelensky had said, that 74 settlements are now under Ukrainian control, with battles being fought along the entire front line.

“The situation, despite the high intensity of hostilities, is under control, we continue the operation,” he said. 

On Monday, Syrskyi said the country’s forces control about 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of Russian territory in Kursk.