Ukrainian troops have made marginal gains in Russia’s Belgorod region, it has been reported, as a map shows the state of play along the front line.

Geolocated footage on Friday showed small advances northwest of Belgorod city which deliver a much-needed boost to Kyiv’s morale in a week in which a Black Sea deal proposed pausing strikes on energy infrastructure.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry via email for comment.

Why It Matters

Belgorod Oblast is in western Russia and borders Ukraine’s Sumy, Kharkiv, and Luhansk Oblasts. Russia has launched numerous attacks against Ukraine from Belgorod, while Moscow has also accused Kyiv of attacks against the region whose significance in the war appears to be growing.

What To Know

Neither Ukraine nor Russia have officially confirmed the incursion but Russian military bloggers and independent analysts said Ukrainian forces had advanced more than two miles into Belgorod.

Russian military bloggers said there was heavy fighting in the settlements of Popovka and Demidovka in which both sides deployed drones and artillery.

A map by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on Friday showed these purported Ukrainian gains in eastern Popovka.

Emil Kastehelmi, a military analyst from Finland-based Black Bird Group told Reuters Ukrainian troops had advanced most likely to a distance of 1.9 to 2.5 miles and penetrated Russia’s first line of defense, although a major breakthrough was unlikely.

He told the agency that Ukraine could capture more villages from the border area, but there would be little to be achieved for Kyiv strategically in the Demidovka direction.

The pro-Moscow Rybar Telegram channel said Russian forces had moved reinforcements from the Kursk region to Belgorod.

What people are saying

The Institute for the Study of War on March 28: “Geolocated footage published on March 28 indicates that Ukrainian forces recently advanced in eastern Popovka (northwest of Belgorod City).”

Emil Kastehelmi, Black Bird Group, per Reuters: “The Ukrainians can, in theory, take some more villages from the border area, but that’s not what a breakthrough means—it’d be a small tactical success.”

What happens next

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian forces had taken “certain steps” in Russia outside of Kursk without providing more details.

However, the Kyiv Independent reported that Ukraine’s operation seemed to be aimed at diverting Russian troops as Moscow tries to push Kyiv’s troops out of Kursk, where it staged an incursion in August 2024.

Meanwhile, Russia is likely preparing to a new multipronged offensive soon to strengthen its position in possible peace talks with Ukraine, according to The Associated Press, citing Ukrainian analysts and diplomatic sources.