"Not encircled"

Ukrainian soldiers remain in Russian territory

Russian troops have pushed the Ukrainians back from the Kursk region. However, there has not yet been a complete withdrawal.(Bild: AFP/HANDOUT)

According to its own statement, the Ukrainian military continues to hold positions in the western Russian region of Kursk. Reports of thousands of soldiers being encircled are "not correct", said Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umjerov.

However, he conceded the retreat to "advantageous defensive positions". The Ukrainian armed forces would remain in the Russian territory until a ceasefire was agreed. This would serve to prevent the advance of the war opponent into Ukrainian territory, said Umjerow. "We still have a significant number of (square) kilometers of enemy territory under control."

Russia's ruler Vladimir Putin and his chief of staff Valery Gerasimov had spoken of the alleged encirclement of thousands of Ukrainian forces after the advance on the small town of Sudzha. US President Donald Trump then asked for leniency for these soldiers. The Ukrainian side has repeatedly denied the encirclement.

Massively pushed back
The war in Ukraine has been going on for more than three years. Russia occupies more than 100,000 square kilometers of territory, including Crimea. Last summer, the Ukrainian military carried the war into the aggressor's territory for the first time in a surprise counterattack and conquered around 1,200 square kilometers in Kursk in western Russia. Recently, however, the Ukrainians have been pushed back massively. Maps from the General Staff in Kiev show that only small areas of Russian territory are still under Ukrainian control.