Ukrainian troops face being ejected from the Russian province of Kursk – in a major blow in war with Vladimir Putin’s forces

Ukrainian troops face being ejected from the Russian province they invaded earlier this year – in a major blow for their country.

The Western-backed forces are on the brink in Kursk after months of fighting, US officials revealed.

They fear the Ukrainians could be encircled should they remain there for more than a few months.

US officials issued their dire warning as President Joe Biden issued the last multi-billion dollar aide package of his administration.

The outgoing Commander-in-Chief signed off nearly $6 billion in military equipment and direct budget support.

But the last tranche of funding could come too late to help Ukraine hold on to territory inside Russia.

Its troops seized up to 1,000 square kilometres in the Kursk region in August – in a move which stunned the Kremlin.

But since then Russia has recaptured at least half the territory and is sending thousands more troops to the region.

Ukrainians close to the Sumy region of Russia. The Western-backed forces are on the brink in Kursk after months of fighting, US officials revealed. They fear the Ukrainians could be encircled should they remain there for more than a few months

A Ukrainian military vehicle driving past a destroyed border crossing point with Russia in the Kursk region. Russia has recaptured at least half the territory and is sending thousands more troops to the region

According to reports, US officials hope Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will retreat sooner rather than later, to prevent loss of life.

He previously stated his intention was to hold territory inside Russia ‘indefinitely’.

More recently, his aides have softened their tone, suggesting their troops will stay only as long as it is feasible.

The Ukrainian force, which includes British volunteers, is outnumbered and out-gunned by 60,000 Russian troops and 12,000 North Koreans.

However, at least 3,000 North Korean troops are thought to have perished in recent weeks.

A Ukrainian retreat could alter the balance of peace talks expected after Donald Trump takes office on January 20th.

Ukraine has been hoping to use territory in Kursk as leverage to recover Russian-occupied territory inside its borders.

It also emerged yesterday that, ahead of his inauguration, Donald Trump’s advisors have been sounding out the Kremlin over peace terms.

President Zelensky (pictured) said recently: ‘For [Vladimir] Putin the most important thing is to push us out of the Kursk region. It is very important for him to demonstrate after President Trump takes office that he is in control of the situation.’

A residential building on fire in Kharkiv in August 2024. Russia has lost 787,940 troops, killed or wounded since its invasion of Ukraine almost three years ago

Russian officials apparently rejected an offer to suspend Ukraine’s admission into NATO for 20 years in return for a ceasefire.

Russia could be holding out for better terms once its troops have ejected the Ukrainians.

As President Zelensky said recently: ‘For [Vladimir] Putin the most important thing is to push us out of the Kursk region.

‘It is very important for him to demonstrate after President Trump takes office that he is in control of the situation.’

Russian forces have also made huge gains on Ukraine’s eastern front, seizing six times as much territory there in 2024 as they did in 2023.

Yesterday, Ukraine and Russia exchanged prisoners of war in a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Around 150 troops from each side were transferred. Some Ukrainian soldiers had spent two years in captivity.

Russia has lost 787,940 troops, killed or wounded since its invasion of Ukraine almost three years ago.

According to figures released by Ukraine Russia has also lost 9,663 tanks, 20,003 armoured fighting vehicles and 21,069 drones.

Despite these losses Russia has been able to replenish its forces whereas Ukraine has struggled to mobilise sufficient numbers of troops.