Russia said today that its operation to eject Ukrainian forces from the western region of Kursk has entered its final stage, seven months after Ukraine launched a surprise attack and seized part of its territory. Russian Chief of Staff General Valery Gerasimov said that 430 Ukrainian troops had been captured. Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kursk for the first time since Ukrainian forces seized some territory in the region. The news comes as U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday that negotiators were headed to Russia for talks on a possible ceasefire with Ukraine after Kyiv agreed to a 30-day truce.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claims that it has prevented a series of attacks against military and civil targets. Russia’s Defence Ministry said that 77 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight. This comes two days after Kyiv carried out its largest direct strike on Moscow during the three-year war.