The Russian forces recaptured three more settlements in the western part of Kursk, according to the Ministry of Defense with the presence of Ukraine further weakening while the advance of Russia threatens Kiev’s unique negotiating paper at a critical time of war.

A formal statement in the Telegram messaging application app that Russian troops now have control of Malaya Lokhnya, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye and Kositsa.

“The armed forces of the Russian Federation continue to exterminate Ukrainian army groups into the territory of Kursk,” the statement said.

Military bloggers on both sides say Ukraine is in defense, while the Ukrainian army claims that Russian forces used a gas pipeline to unleash a surprise attack in the area.

Ukraine carried out the unexpected invasion of Kursk in August, rapidly occupying territories in one of the first land attacks that Russia receives from foreign force after World War II.

In addition to the occupation of territories that could possibly be exchanged with Russian occupation, the operation was aimed at distracting Moscow’s resources from the front to the east.

But since then, Ukraine has been difficult to keep its territories in Kursk and is facing a overthrow in its US -based crashes under Donald Trump, who is pressure on Kiev to agree in peace, stopping US military assistance and information exchange.