Ukraine's deteriorating position in Kursk comes as it is finally seeing more positive developments on the eastern front in Donbas, where Russian forces' advance appears to be stalling out and Ukraine is now mounting a number of counterattacks, according to independent military analysts.

Ukraine Air Assault ForcesRussian forces advanced further in their efforts to retake the Kursk region on Monday, threatening to encircle thousands of Ukrainian soldiers just as Kyiv prepared for talks with top U.

Russian special forces walked inside a gas pipeline to strike Ukrainian units from the rear in the Kursk region, Ukraine’s military and Russian war bloggers reported, as Moscow claimed fresh gains in its push to recapture parts of the border province that Kyiv seized in a shock offensive.