Ukraine has seized control of more land in seven days than Vladimir Putin has in eight months, according to Kyiv’s top general.

Officials in Russia have admitted that Ukraine now controls 28 settlements - an area more than seven miles over the border and almost 25 miles wide.

A Ukrainian chief general announced on Monday that his forces have taken control of 1,000sq km (386sq miles) of Kursk, a region in southern Russia.

However, the figures have not been verified and independent analysts have suggested a lower number for the size of Ukraine’s advance.

Russia appeared to have reached within a short distance of Pokrovsk and almost captured towns Chasiv Yar, Toretsk and Niu-York.

An analysis found that it has taken Russia more than eight months to capture 994sq km of territory.

The last time a 1,000sq km plot of land was seized by Moscow was before December,1, 2023.

According to data held by the Ukrainian military, during that time, around 300,000 Russia troops were killed or wounded.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

Putin vows to 'kick enemy out' as he evacuates second border region after Ukrainian invasionPutin left 'nervous' and angry after Ukraine's 'slap in the face' with surprise Russia invasionPutin forced to issue state of emergency after Ukraine's surprise invasion

Russia used slow-moving infantry advances and destructive artillery barrages to fight through Ukrainian positions.

Ukraine struggled with ammunition shortages following a stalled US aid package.

Russia’s most successful month on the battlefield was in May 2024.

It launched a cross-border invasion into Ukraine’s north-eastern Kharkiv region.

Troops managed to advance six miles into the region before Kyiv stabilised the situation.

It remains unknown how long Ukraine will keep control of its new land.

On Tuesday Apti Alaudino, commander of the Chechen Akhmat special forces unit, said Russia had started to retake some of its territory.