Russia has announced the recapture of two more villages in the Kursk region, intensifying its offensive to reclaim territories previously seized by Ukraine.
The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed on Saturday that its forces had taken control of Zaoleshenka and Rubanshchina, both situated near the town of Sudzha, which Moscow recently reclaimed.
This development follows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s call for Ukrainian troops in Kursk to surrender, assuring them of safe treatment if they laid down their arms. Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump urged the Kremlin to spare the lives of Ukrainian forces, who he claimed were "completely surrounded" by Russia’s military.
While Moscow celebrates its military gains, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has refuted claims that Ukrainian forces are trapped in the Kursk region. He acknowledged that the situation is "very difficult," but insisted there is "no encirclement" of troops.
"Our forces continue to hold back Russian and North Korean groupings in Kursk," Zelensky stated on social media.
Ukraine had originally taken control of parts of Russia’s Kursk region in August 2024, hoping to use it as leverage in future peace negotiations. However, with Russia’s latest counteroffensive, Ukraine has been forced to retreat westward.
As Russian forces reclaim territories, the Kremlin has also begun evacuating civilians from conflict zones. Acting Kursk governor Alexander Khinstein reported that 275 people had been evacuated from areas recently regained by Russian troops, with 174 of them now in temporary shelters.
Footage released by Russia's Defence Ministry showed extensive destruction in Sudzha, with buildings reduced to rubble and Russian flags flying in the streets. Military engineers are reportedly working to clear the recaptured areas.
Amid escalating hostilities, Western leaders continue to push for a ceasefire in Ukraine. The United Kingdom recently hosted a virtual summit with global leaders to discuss how to protect any future ceasefire.
Following the meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on Russia to support a peace deal leading to a "just and lasting peace." She emphasised the EU’s commitment to strengthening Ukraine’s military while also boosting Europe’s defense spending under the ReArm Europe initiative.
Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that Italy does not plan to send soldiers to Ukraine as part of any potential peacekeeping force. She reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to working with its European and Western allies, but stressed that Rome does not intend to participate in any military deployment on Ukrainian soil.
While Russia advances in Kursk, Ukraine has continued its attacks on Russian infrastructure. A Ukrainian drone strike targeted an oil depot in Tuapse, a city in Russia’s Krasnodar region, igniting a massive fire. Almost 200 firefighters were deployed to contain the blaze.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Zelensky claimed that Ukrainian forces have stabilised the situation around Pokrovsk, an eastern city that Russian troops have been attempting to capture for months.
In Kryvyi Rih, Zelensky’s hometown, the number of wounded civilians from a recent Russian strike has risen to 14, including a two-year-old child and a 15-year-old teenager. Ukrainian officials say Moscow has repeatedly targeted the city, causing severe destruction to residential areas.
Despite ongoing calls for a ceasefire, Putin has not committed to the US-backed proposal, instead presenting his own conditions and raising questions about the initiative.