Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov denied the claims "spread by Russian propaganda about the alleged encirclement of a large part of Ukrainian servicemen" in the Russian Kursk region, Ukrinfrom reported.
"Our forces continue to conduct defensive operations, we hold a significant area of enemy territory under our control", Umerov told the American television "Fox News".
"In order to preserve some of the resources and people, we regrouped in more favorable defensive positions, which was planned, but at this stage, none of the units of our Defense Forces are surrounded", the Ukrainian minister said.
He pointed out that the claims about "thousands of Ukrainian servicemen" who are surrounded in the Russian Kursk region are not true. Umerov recalled that a similar statement was made by Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 24 last year, during the BRICS summit in Kazan.
At that time, this statement by Russian propaganda also did not correspond to the truth, Umerov noted.
"We will continue our active defensive operations, carrying out some offensive actions aimed at the flanks of enemy forces in order to prevent their invasion of our territory," the Ukrainian Defense Minister added, quoted by Ukrinform.