Russian President Vladimir Putin said small groups of Ukrainian soldiers were still hiding in basements and bunkers in western Russia's Kursk region, Reuters reported, BTA reports.
During a public event in Moscow, Putin said that, according to intercepted radio communications, Ukrainian fighters had sent requests to their commanders for a safe evacuation.
Earlier this week, the head of state held a telephone conversation with the commanders of the forces responsible for the Kursk sector to congratulate them on the “victory” and the completion of the operation to push back Ukrainian troops who entered the region in August last year.
For its part, Kiev confirmed that Ukrainian forces were still present in Kursk and the neighboring Belgorod region, albeit in limited numbers.