President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Ukrainian military was “consolidating” its positions in occupied territories in Russia and expanding further.
The Ukrainian army has been conducting an offensive in Russia’s Kursk region for two weeks – its deepest offensive since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion more than two years ago.
The force said in its daily report that troops were continuing to advance deeper into Kursk.
Moscow called the incursion a major provocation and vowed to retaliate with a “decent response”.
In a statement on the messaging app Telegram, President Zelensky said: “Thank you to all the soldiers and commanders who took in Russian military prisoners and brought closer the release of our soldiers and civilians held by Russia.
“General Syrskyi also reported on the strengthening of our forces’ positions in the Kursk region and the expansion of the territory of stability.”
Russia said its forces had pushed back Ukrainian troops near three settlements in the Kursk region and were searching for “mobile enemy groups” trying to penetrate deeper into the country.
Kiev claims to have taken control of more than 80 settlements in the offensive.
His latest statement comes after Ukraine destroyed a bridge of strategic importance across the Seym River this week.
The bridge was used by the Kremlin to resupply troops and destroying it could hamper those efforts.
The Russian foreign ministry said the bridge was “completely destroyed” and volunteers helping to evacuate civilians were killed.
However, as Ukraine pushes deeper into Russia’s western territory, Russian forces are also making gains in eastern Ukraine, capturing a series of villages in recent weeks.
Russia attacked at least four regions of Ukraine on Saturday, including the northeastern Kharkiv region, according to Ukrainian officials.
Mr Zelensky said on Saturday there had been “dozens of Russian attacks” on Ukrainian positions near the cities of Toretsk and Pokrovsk.
Pokrovsk is an important logistics center located on the main supply route for the Ukrainian army along the eastern front.
“Our soldiers and units are doing everything possible to destroy the occupiers and repel the attacks,” the Ukrainian president said, stressing that the situation was “under control”.
