Russian forces have retaken 63.2% of the territory captured by Ukraine in the Kursk region of western Russia, the Russian defence ministry said on Friday.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces had retaken 63.2% of Ukrainian-held territory in the Kursk region of western Russia. Meanwhile, Germany's top diplomat has criticised the Berlin row over aid.

Ukraine launched a new offensive in Russia's Kursk region Sunday, Moscow and Kyiv said. Ukrainian forces had captured about 500 square miles of the western Russian province in a surprise incursion in August, but Russian and North Korean troops are believed to have retaken 40-50% of that area.

Ukraine’s continued focus on Kursk shows how important Kyiv believes it is to hold on to Russian land, especially if Trump pushes both sides to the negotiating table.

Russia said Sunday that Ukraine had launched a "counterattack" in the western border region of Kursk, where Kyiv's forces began a shock ground offensive last August.

Ukrainian armed forces in the Kursk region have captured 27 Russian soldiers. Intense fighting continues in the area. This is partly due to the upcoming inauguration of Donald Trump. The Ukrainian air assault forces reported capturing 27 Russian soldiers in the Kursk region.

Ukrainian paratroopers, together with adjacent units, captured 27 Russian soldiers in the Kursk region. The captured Russians and marines, according to the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.