No Defense Forces unit in Kursk Oblast surrounded – Umerov

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has denied the claims spread by russian propaganda about the alleged encirclement of a large number of Ukrainian troops in Kursk Oblast.

The Minister said this in an interview with the American Fox News channel, the Ukrainian News agency reports.

"Our Defense Forces continue to conduct defensive operations, and we control a significant number of kilometers of enemy territory. We have carried out some planned redeployment to more advantageous defense lines, but at the current stage, no Defense Forces unit is surrounded," Umerov said.

In an interview with Fox News, the Ukrainian Minister stressed that the claims about thousands of Ukrainian servicemen allegedly being surrounded are untrue, and recalled that russian dictator putin had already made the falsest statement about the "encirclement" of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk Oblast in October at the BRICS summit.

"We will continue our active defense with certain offensive actions on the flanks of enemy groups in order to prevent them from invading our territory," Umerov said.

He also thanked the people and leadership of the United States "for their security assistance, for the diplomatic efforts they are making."

When asked by a Fox News correspondent whether he trusted putin when it came to the possibility of achieving a ceasefire, Umerov replied: "We trust the American people. We trust the American administration and support it."

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on March 13, putin announced the alleged blockade of Ukrainian units in the Kursk Oblast of the russian federation.

On March 14, US President Donald Trump said that he had asked putin to "save the lives" of Ukrainian soldiers who were allegedly surrounded in the Kursk Oblast.

On the same day, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine assured that the information about the encirclement of Ukrainian army units in the Kursk Oblast by the aggressor country russia is not true.