St. petersburg: Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that his country has taken control of nearly 5,000 square kilometers (1,930 square miles) in Ukraine this year, as the conflict that has persisted for over three and a half years continues.

According to Anadolu Agency, Putin made this assertion during a meeting with top military officials, including Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, in St. Petersburg. Putin specified that Russia had "liberated" 4,900 square kilometers and 212 population centers, attributing this achievement to the efforts of Russian soldiers and officers.

Putin stated that Russian forces maintain their strategic initiative in the ongoing conflict and emphasized the importance of the defense industry in supporting the military's operations. He also claimed that Ukrainian troops are retreating despite offering resistance along the front line.

Putin further alleged that in response, the Kyiv regime is attempting to attack civilian facilities in Russia to demonstrate some success to its Western supporters, but insisted that these efforts would not be effective. He reiterated the goal of ensuring the safety of Russian citizens, strategic sites, and civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities.

Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, also present at the meeting, reported that the most active fighting is occurring in the directions of Pokrovsk and Dnipropetrovsk. He stated that since September 1, Russian troops have taken control of over 200 square kilometers (77 square miles) in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Ukrainian authorities have not immediately responded to these claims, and independent verification remains challenging due to the ongoing war.