Investing.com -- Ukrainian troops, who entered Russia’s Kursk region last summer, are now nearly encircled by Russian forces. This development marks a significant setback for Kyiv, which had hoped to use its presence in Kursk as a bargaining chip in potential peace negotiations with Moscow.

Over the past three days, Ukraine’s situation in Kursk has worsened significantly. Open source maps indicate that Russian forces have regained territory, almost splitting the Ukrainian force in two and disconnecting the main group from its primary supply lines. This comes after the United States suspended its intelligence sharing with Kyiv, raising the possibility that Ukrainian forces may need to retreat back into Ukraine or face capture or death.

This reversal on the battlefield coincides with increasing pressure from the U.S. for Kyiv to agree to a ceasefire with Moscow. Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to make advancements along parts of the front line within Ukraine, despite Ukrainian forces staging a counteroffensive in one area.

Pasi Paroinen, a military analyst with the Finland-based Black Bird Group, described Ukraine’s situation in Kursk as "very bad." Paroinen explained that Ukrainian forces are close to being encircled or forced to withdraw, which would require them to navigate a perilous route threatened by Russian drones and artillery.

Neither the Russian Defense Ministry nor the Ukrainian military have officially confirmed the Russian advance. Both typically report changes on the battlefield with a delay.

Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk in August was aimed at bringing the war to ordinary Russians and easing pressure on Ukrainian troops defending their own country from Russian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that it was also intended to give Kyiv a potential bargaining chip in future peace talks.

Open source mapping from Deep State, a reliable Ukrainian military blogging resource, revealed on Friday that approximately three-quarters of the Ukrainian force within Russia is now almost completely encircled. They are connected to the remaining Ukrainian force near the Russian border by a narrow land corridor, which Russian forces are moving to cut off.

Deep State reported on Thursday that Russian forces had advanced near the nearby settlement of Kuryilovka. In an update released on Friday, it also stated that Russian forces were pressuring Ukraine’s positions in the border area with the Sumy region and attempting to block supplies to Ukrainian forces inside Kursk.

Yuri Podolyak, a prominent Russian war blogger, said Russian forces had broken through south of Sudzha, a Russian town located inside the nearly surrounded pocket.

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