Russia says its troops inflict defeats on Ukrainian units in Kursk region

Jan 7 (Reuters) - Russia's defence ministry said on Tuesday its troops had inflicted a series of defeats on Ukrainian units in Russia's western Kursk region.

Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield reports.

Ukraine, which seized part of the Kursk region in early August and has held on to it for five months, launched a new offensive there on Sunday.

(Reporting by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)

((alexander.marrow@thomsonreuters.com;))