Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Russia has regained control of the Kursk region, where Ukraine launched a surprise offensive last year. However, Ukraine's army has refuted this claim, stating that the fighting is still ongoing.
"The Kyiv regime's adventure has completely failed," Putin announced, praising the Russian forces for their victory over the Ukrainian military in the region. This development is seen as a significant win for Moscow during a critical phase of the war.
Contrary to Putin's claims, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces stated in a Telegram post that the hostilities in Kursk are ongoing. Ukrainian forces are maintaining their positions and carrying out their assigned tasks despite the challenging operational situation.
Ukraine's military reported multiple combat engagements in Kursk on Saturday, with one fight still in progress as of 4 p.m. Kyiv time. They also accused Russia of launching nearly 150 artillery strikes throughout the day.
While CNN cannot independently verify the battlefield reports, both sides are struggling to make advancements on other fronts of the conflict.
Ukraine initiated a surprise incursion into Kursk in August, swiftly capturing territory in the first ground invasion of Russia by a foreign power since World War II.
Since then, Russia, with support from North Korean soldiers, has been working to expel Ukrainian forces from its borders, while Kyiv has been investing resources to retain its territory in Kursk as a strategic bargaining chip in potential peace negotiations.
Putin mentioned that the recapture of Kursk "paves the way for further successful actions by our troops in other critical areas of the front."
In a Telegram post, Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, expressed gratitude to the North Korean soldiers for their professionalism and courage in battle.
Ukrainian officials and Western intelligence reports estimated that around 12,000 North Korean soldiers were deployed to fight in Russia.
Local authorities are currently working on restoring normalcy in Kursk, including demining the area and destroying unexploded ordnance. They are also conducting searches in forested areas, basements, and abandoned buildings for any remaining Ukrainian soldiers.
If Putin's claims are accurate, Ukraine's hopes of using Kursk as leverage in negotiations have diminished, potentially affecting Kyiv's political influence and military morale after years of conflict.
Despite US efforts to facilitate peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, tensions among the leaders of the three nations have hindered substantial progress.
An intense week of diplomacy saw US President Donald Trump criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the challenges in settling the conflict but later expressing optimism about a potential deal between Russia and Ukraine.
During a brief meeting at the Vatican, Zelensky and Trump discussed peace negotiations, with a White House spokesperson describing the meeting as "productive." Zelensky expressed gratitude for the meeting, highlighting its potential for historic outcomes.
Shortly after the meeting, Trump suggested imposing new sanctions on Russia for recent attacks on Kyiv.
"There was no justification for Putin's missile strikes on civilian areas in the past few days," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "It appears he is prolonging the war, and we may need to consider 'Banking' or 'Secondary Sanctions' to address this issue. Too many lives are being lost!!!"
CNN's Kevin Liptak and Victoria Butenko contributed to this report.