The General Staff said that Russia had been reporting an alleged encirclement of Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast "for political purposes and to put pressure on Ukraine and its partners."

U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration held "productive discussions" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which he urged him to "spare" surrounded Ukrainian troops, he wrote in a Truth Social post on March 14.

Ukrainian troops are making a significant retreat in Russia's Kursk Oblast, particularly near the town of Sudzha, but are not entirely withdrawing from the Kursk front. Units that spoke to Ukrainska Pravda have confirmed they are being repositioned to positions on the Russian side of the border.