Ukraine’s presence in Russia’s Kursk region has deteriorated sharply, with the advance threatening Kyiv’s sole territorial bargaining counter at a crucial time in the war.

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

The precarious situation for Ukraine follows a pause in US military aid and intelligence sharing as President Donald Trump puts pressure on Kyiv to agree to a ceasefire with Moscow.

"Difficult battles continue in the border area of Sumy Oblast, Russian assault units are attempting to breakthrough and move toward a highway from Yunakivka to Sudzha in Kursk Oblast," said Andrii Kovalenko,

Ukraine’s military and Russian war bloggers say Russian special forces walked inside of a gas pipeline to strike Ukrainian units from the rear in the Kursk region.

By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian special forces crept miles through a major gas pipeline near the town of Sudzha in an attempt to surprise Ukrainian forces as part of a major offensive to eject Ukrainian soldiers from the western Russian region of Kursk,

Geolocated footage from March 8 shows Russian forces recently captured Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, north of Sudzha. Advance units of Russia’s 30th and 1427th Motorized Rifle Regiments are moving in the area.

Russia has intensified its attacks in Ukraine, reclaiming three villages in the Kursk region while launching deadly strikes across eastern Ukraine. At least 14 people were killed in overnight assaults.