UPDATE - Russia reports advances in Kursk region, Ukraine's Kharkiv region

UPDATES WITH DEFENSE MINISTRY'S STATEMENT ON ADVANCES IN KURSK REGION; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Russia on Monday claimed that its forces have taken control of the village of Fyholivka in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region as well as regained the village of Sverdlikovo in Russia's Kursk region.

According to the Defense Ministry, the village fell under Russian control following an operation by the Zapad (West) group of forces.

The Sever (North) group of forces also reclaimed the village of Sverdlikovo in Russia's Kursk region, captured by Ukrainian troops during the incursion launched in August last year, the ministry said.

It said the Russian forces launched a coordinated strike overnight using precision weapons and drones, targeting Ukraine's military airfields and ports, workshops for drone production, and their storage sites.

Ukraine responded with a large-scale drone attack, and Russian forces shot down 177 drones overnight, along with five French-made Hammer guided bombs, three US-made HIMARS rockets, and a Neptune anti-ship missile converted for hitting ground targets, the ministry claimed.

The military service emphasized that 102 of the 177 drones were shot down outside the battle zone while attempting attacks on civilian objects.

Ukraine has yet to comment on the claims, and independent verification is challenging due to the ongoing Moscow-Kyiv war, which will be three years old later this month.