The front line inside Ukraine has become more static, Ukrainian soldiers say, even as Russia regains ground in its own Kursk region.

Reports suggested that Russian forces had recaptured Sudzha in Kursk, the largest town seized by Ukrainian forces during their unexpected cross-border incursion last year. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the chief of the Ukrainian military, said on Thursday Russia had carried out multiple airstrikes on Kursk, almost destroying Sudzha.