-Ukraine suffered heavy losses, with hundreds of soldiers killed and dozens of military equipment units destroyed, claims Russian Defense Ministry 

- Defense Minister Andrey Belousov chalks out a plan to enhance civilian and infrastructure security in Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions   

MOSCOW

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that it has retaken control of the Krupets settlement in the Kursk region, which had previously been captured by Ukrainian forces. 

In a statement, the ministry said the Sever (North) group of forces thwarted Ukrainian attempts to advance in multiple directions. It also claimed to have targeted Ukrainian military equipment and reserves, including in the neighboring Sumy region.

Kyiv suffered heavy losses, with hundreds of soldiers killed and dozens of military equipment units destroyed in the past day, according to the ministry.

"Overall, during the fighting in the Kursk direction, the enemy lost up to 2,640 military personnel, 37 tanks, 32 armored personnel carriers, 23 infantry fighting vehicles, 206 armored combat vehicles, 96 vehicles, four anti-aircraft missile systems, three multiple rocket launchers, 20 field artillery guns, and three electronic warfare stations," the ministry stated, adding that the battle continues.

In a related development, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov convened a meeting to discuss civilian and infrastructure security in Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions.

"Today's meeting focused on additional measures to ensure the integrity and security of the territory, as well as the protection of the population and infrastructure in the Belgorod region from attacks by Ukrainian military formations," the ministry said.

Belousov announced that the General Staff has prepared a plan to strengthen command and control effectiveness in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and the Belgorod region's administration.

This plan includes assigning responsible officials as well as allocating additional forces and resources for these purposes.

The minister emphasized that he would personally oversee the plan’s implementation.

The meeting was attended by Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, Deputy Defense Ministers Lieutenant-General Andrei Bulyga and Alexey Krivoruchko, as well as representatives of the presidential administration.

Kyiv's incursion into Russia's Kursk region began on the night of August 5-6, when Ukrainian forces entered near Sudzha. On August 12, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the troops' entry into Russian territory but did not elaborate on their goals.

According to the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry, some 9,500 people have been evacuated from the conflict zone.

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the incursion as a "terrorist attack."

Independent verification of claims from both sides remains difficult due to the ongoing conflict.