Ukraine held an estimated 514 square miles of Russian territory at its high point on Aug. 24, 2024, but as of March 12, Russian forces had retaken slightly more than 70%.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kursk for the first time since Ukrainian forces invaded as Russian and North Korean forces accelerated an advance in the region.

Ukrainian officials have not confirmed a retreat from the town in Russia’s Kursk region, parts of which were captured by Kyiv’s forces last summer.

Russian forces have recaptured Sudzha, the largest town that Ukraine once occupied in the Kursk region, according to Moscow, threatening Kyiv’s sole territorial bargaining chip amid pressure to negotiate an end to the war.

Ukraine's grip on Kursk has likely been a particularly sore spot for the Kremlin since Kyiv launched its cross-border offensive last August.