Russia has announced that its troops have fully reclaimed the Kursk region, nearly nine months after losing chunks of the border territory to a surprise Ukrainian incursion.

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.

The Russian leader traveled to the region in the west of the country where a surprise incursion last year embarrassed Moscow.