Ukraine shocked the world with its bold offensive operation in the summer that at its height took control of an area about the size of Los Angeles in Kursk, Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on Ukrainian troops in the Russian region of Kursk to surrender, as diplomatic back-and-forth continues over a potential US-brokered ceasefire with Ukraine.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine denies the statements about the encirclement of Ukrainian units in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. In particular, Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have previously spoken about this.