He claimed the Kursk incursion had weakened Ukraine 's army in the east by diverting experienced troops away from the Donetsk front, which had helped Russia 's army to make faster gains in the Donbas. However, General Syrskyi dismissed Putin's claims in an interview with CNN on Thursday.

By Vladimir Soldatkin and Guy Faulconbridge VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Ukraine's incursion into the Russian region of Kursk had failed to slow Russia's own advance in eastern Ukraine and had weakened Kyiv's defences along the frontline in a boost to Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday slammed Ukraine's roughly one-month offensive in the Russian Kursk region, saying Kiev had failed to achieve its goals and done nothing to stop the Russian army.

Russia is ready to continue sending gas to Europe via pipelines across Ukraine beyond 2024, according to President Vladimir Putin.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, revealed that Russia had planned an offensive from the Kursk region before Ukrainian forces launched operations there.

At least seven people were killed Tuesday night in Ukraine as Russia continued its assault across the country. BBC News correspondent Nick Beake has more from Poltava, Ukraine, where more than 50 people were killed Wednesday by Russian missiles.