Russian forces recaptured 3 settlements in Kursk, Russia, on Sunday (March 9, 2025), according to the country’s Ministry of Defense, as part of their effort to push Ukrainian troops back.
“The armed forces of the Russian Federation continue to drive Ukrainian army units from the territory of the Kursk region,” the Ministry stated on Telegram.
Reports and images show that Russian soldiers advanced 16 kilometers through a pipeline, catching Ukrainian forces by surprise.
Ukraine (V. Zelenskyy and ministers) and the USA (led by Secretary of State M. Rubio) will hold peace talks tomorrow in Saudi Arabia.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Army reports that its forces repelled 15 Russian attacks in the Kursk region, with six armed clashes still ongoing. It also reported 12 Russian airstrikes on their positions.
By capturing areas in Kursk (1,300 square kilometers so far), Ukraine aims to gain leverage in negotiations to force Russia to withdraw from parts of Eastern Ukraine, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russian forces have made slow but steady progress, Moscow announced yesterday that its forces had captured another village.
Europe is concerned about the developments in the war in Ukraine, as the United States has stopped military aid and information sharing with Ukraine following a contentious meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 28.
