At the same time, Ukraine is struggling to hold back Russian advanced further south, around the city of Kurakhove, which has been surrounded from three sides for months. Earlier this week, Zelensky called the situation around Kurakhove “the most difficult area” of the frontline.

Ukraine said on Monday its hard-pressed military was battling 50,000 troops in Russia's Kursk region to its north, while also scrambling to reinforce two besieged fronts in the east and bracing to meet an infantry assault in the south.

Over the last day, November 14, 144 combat engagements took place on the frontline. Russia put the most pressure on the Kurakhove sector, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.