Vladimir Putin has visited Kursk for the first time since claiming to have completely retaken the Russian region from Ukrainian forces, state media reported on Wednesday, as the Russian president attempts to repel international pressure to agree to a 30-day ceasefire on the other side of the border.

President Vladimir Putin visited Russia's Kursk region for the first time since Moscow said that it drove out Ukrainian forces from the area last month, the Kremlin said Wednesday. Putin visited the region bordering Ukraine the previous day,

Russian units from the North group of forces operating in the Sumy direction are approaching the key logistics hub of the supply of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which is used for attacks on the Kursk region.