Russia said on Tuesday that its troops had made major new gains in its western region of Kursk, accelerating their push to drive out Ukrainian forces who have been clinging on to a slice of Russian territory since last August.

Moscow has broken through Kyiv's defensive lines, reclaiming dozens of square kilometers of territory, according to military bloggers

In an attempt to divert Russian forces from the brutal frontlines in eastern Ukraine – and embarrass Vladimir Putin – Ukraine smashed across the border into the Kursk region in August, the biggest attack on Russian territory since the Nazi invasion of 1941.

Ukrainian forces had repelled eight Russian assaults in the Kursk region in western Russia, according to Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. He said active fighting continued in the suburbs of Sudzha and its surrounding areas.

Efforts to eject Ukrainian forces from Russian territory accelerated after President Trump halted support for Kyiv.