Russian forces have advanced further into Kursk in a major operation to encircle Ukrainian soldiers, pro-Kremlin war bloggers said.

Ukraine has occupied the Russian region since a surprise offensive last August and hoped to use it as a bargaining chip in any negotiations.

Last week, Vladimir Putin’s forces launched a counter-offensive in Sudzha, seven miles inside Russia, while simultaneously crossing the border into Ukraine’s Sumy region. 

It was a pincer movement aimed at surrounding thousands of Ukrainians troops.

On Monday, Russian forces were reported to have cleared the village of Ivashkovsky as they advanced on the region in seven separate pushes.