Russian forces are advancing on Ukrainian troops in Kursk, an official reports.

 Since the Trump administration temporarily halted military and intelligence assistance to Kyiv, Russian forces have intensified their attacks on Ukrainian troops in the region, according to officials and an analyst.

March 15, 2025, 7:41 AM GMT+6

Russian forces have nearly encircled Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk region, forcing some Ukrainian units to abandon their vehicles as they retreat, according to a U.S. military official.

There are increasing signs that Russia may soon regain full control of Kursk, the official added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s cautious response to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal in Ukraine has coincided with a concerted effort by Russian forces to push Ukrainian troops out of the Kursk region, according to two Western officials.

Ukrainian troops seized the area, just across Ukraine’s eastern border, last year in a bold operation that embarrassed Moscow. However, losing control of Kursk would be a significant setback for Kyiv, which has considered the region valuable leverage in any future peace negotiations.

Over the past 11 days, Russian forces have intensified ground and air attacks on Ukrainian troops in Kursk from multiple directions, according to two Western officials and a military analyst.

The offensive escalated after the Trump administration temporarily suspended military and intelligence aid to Kyiv on March 3. A European official and analysts suggest this timing was likely not coincidental. The U.S. assistance was reinstated on Wednesday, following assurances from the Trump administration that Ukraine was prepared to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia.

After days of heavy bombardment near Sudzha, Russian forces have recaptured the town in the Kursk region, Russian officials announced Thursday. If current trends persist, Russian forces could soon reclaim all territory occupied by Ukrainian troops since August, according to Angelica Evans, a Russia analyst with the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War.

Russia has steadily reinforced its presence around Kursk since Ukraine took control in August, amassing an estimated 78,000 Russian and North Korean troops, according to Evans.

“They have had the capability to retake the area for months, but we have not seen a concerted effort until this past week,” she noted.

In a significant escalation, Russia deployed several three-ton FAB-3000 bombs against Ukrainian positions in Kursk over two days, Evans reported. These munitions, rarely used on the front line, are converted into guided glide bombs using specialized kits, allowing them to be launched from beyond the reach of most Ukrainian air defense systems.

Ukraine has denied that its troops are surrounded or at risk of encirclement in Kursk.

“Reports of the alleged ‘encirclement’ of Ukrainian units in the Kursk region are false, fabricated by Russia for political manipulation and to pressure Ukraine and its allies,” Ukraine’s general staff stated on Friday.

Ukraine’s incursion into Russia last August marked the first time a foreign army had occupied Russian territory since World War II.

As Ukrainian forces face mounting pressure in Kursk, President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Putin in Moscow on Thursday to advance ceasefire negotiations. A Kremlin spokesperson later stated there were “reasons to be cautiously optimistic” about a potential resolution to the war.

Before meeting Witkoff, Putin acknowledged that, in principle, he accepted the ceasefire proposal but emphasized that numerous “nuances” needed to be addressed, including the fate of Ukrainian troops in Kursk.

A European official suggested that Putin may be deliberately complicating negotiations to buy time for Russian forces advancing in Kursk.

Referring to the Ukrainian troops in Kursk, Putin questioned their fate in the event of a ceasefire. “Will all those who are there withdraw without a fight? Or will the Ukrainian leadership order them to lay down their arms and surrender?” he asked.

In a social media post on Friday, Trump hinted at the dire situation facing Ukrainian troops, though he did not specify their location.

“Thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by the Russian military,” Trump wrote in all capital letters, adding that he had asked Putin to spare their lives.