SINCE Zelensky's men advanced into enemy territory on August 6, Russia has been making a desperate effort to retake the upper hand in Ukraine.
Kyiv now claims to control over 500 square miles of Putin's territory in Russia’s worst defeat on home soil since World War Two.
President Zelensky said the blitz was part of a master plan to help end the war.
It served a humiliating blow to Putin's efforts - as the so-called "special operation" he said would last just weeks in early 2022 approaches the three-year mark.
Footage has revealed the true extent of Ukraine's success in Kursk with hordes of Russian soldiers surrendering and being taken as prisoners of war.
Raging Putin hit back with indiscriminate air attacks on Ukrainian cities as he licks his wounds from the crushing defeat.
Just days ago two Russian ballistic missiles were launched at a military academy and hospital inside Ukraine.
At least 51 people were killed and 271 were injured in what has been described as one of the deadliest attacks since the start of the war.
Russian Islander missiles scored a direct hit on a parade ground and canteen as electronic warfare trainees gathered in Poltava in northeastern Ukraine.
Dozens of military recruits scrambled for cover after being alerted by sirens but were blown up in the blast before they could reach for safety.
The attack was aimed at cadets from specialist military unit A3990 at the Institute of Communications but also damaged a nearby hospital.
Meanwhile, Putin once again has floated peace talks with Ukraine.
He said he was "ready to negotiate" and was willing to revisit a failed deal from mediated talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul early on in the war.
And this comes just weeks after Ukrainian soldiers burst into Russia.
Speaking at the 2024 Eastern Economic Forum on September 5, he said: "Are we ready to negotiate with them?
"We have never refused to do so, but not based on some ephemeral demands, but based on those documents that were agreed and initiated in Istanbul."
A preliminary agreement between Russia and Ukraine was reached in the Turkish city not long after the war began but was never implemented.
The terms of the deal were never made public.
Ageing Putin, 71, said China, India and Brazil could act as mediators in potential new peace talks.
He later added: "If there is a desire of Ukraine to carry on with the negotiations, I can do that."
Putin has previously floated peace talks - but has always insisted that Russia would take, or get to keep occupied Ukrainian territory.
Kyiv has previously said it will not directly engage with Russia during any negotiations to end the war and has been steadfast in not giving up any of its territory.