Russia begins demining border areas of Kursk region

MOSCOW, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Russian engineering units have started demining operations in reclaimed border areas of the Kursk region, the Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday.

The efforts are aimed to facilitate the restoration of essential infrastructure and the resumption of economic activities following intense combat, the ministry said in a statement.

It added that the engineering units have discovered munitions banned by the Geneva Convention.

Over the past weeks, Russian troops have retaken a large part of areas that Ukraine captured after its surprise cross-border attack in the Kursk region in August last year. ■