Which parts of Russia’s Kursk region are under Ukrainian control? Battle maps from Ukraine’s General Staff
Illustrative photo: The Armed Forces of Ukraine showed maps of battles in the Kursk region on March 17 (GettyImages)
The Russian army continues its offensive in the Kursk region. According to the latest updates, the buffer zone controlled by Ukraine's Defense Forces has once again shrunk, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reports.
According to the General Staff, there were 14 combat clashes in the Kursk direction over the past 24 hours.
The enemy also launched 11 airstrikes, dropped 18 guided bombs, and conducted 289 artillery shellings, including 12 from multiple rocket launchers.
As of the morning of March 17, the maps show that the Russians have regained control over the city of Sudzha, or at least control most of it.
However, the DeepState project reported just the day before that the Russians had captured Sudzha and Rubanshchyna. According to their data, the area controlled by Ukrainian forces amounts to about 110 square kilometers.
Fighting in Kursk region
Last summer, Ukraine’s Defense Forces launched the Kursk operation, during which they took control of around 100 settlements and created a buffer zone there.
According to the Ukrainian military command, the Kursk operation was a preventive measure against the Russian offensive in northern Ukraine.
However, the Russians began involving North Korean troops in the battles in the Kursk region and, in early February, intensified their offensive to push the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of the area. The situation escalated in early March. The Russians claimed that Ukrainian troops were allegedly encircled, but this information was denied by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Furthermore, Zelenskyy stated that Russia is amassing troops near Ukraine's eastern border. He said this indicates Russia’s intention to strike at the Sumy region.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump stated that there were "very good and productive discussions" with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. He also claimed that thousands of Ukrainian soldiers were completely surrounded by Russian forces and were in a very vulnerable position.
"I strongly urged Putin to spare their lives," he wrote.
In response, Putin suggested that Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region surrender to captivity.
