President Vladimir Putin has visited the western Russian oblast of Kursk for the first time since Ukrainian forces seized some territory in the region after a surprise campaign launched in August 2024.
Russia has in the past week made sweeping battlefield gains in Ukraine-occupied Kursk, coming close to driving enemy forces out of the country and ending the first foreign invasion on its territory since World War Two.
Putin’s visit highlighted the military advances and came as the U.S. and Ukraine prepare to present the dictator with a 30-day ceasefire deal agreed earlier this week.
Appearing on Russian state television dressed in a pixilated uniform, Putin visited a military control center and held a meeting at a command post for the Kursk troops. The Russian leader heard a report from Valery Gerasimov, head of the Russian General Staff, who told him that Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region were now surrounded.
“It’s systematic destruction is underway,” Gerasimov said.
Online maps indicate that Russia has won back control over Sudzha, a key town and transport hub for the region that has become a milestone of Russia’s counteroffensive.
Ukraine’s top army commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said fighting continues on the outskirts of the town and added that Kyiv’s troops will continue operations in the region “as long as appropriate and necessary.”
Putin’s visit highlighted the military advances and came as the U.S. and Ukraine prepare to present the dictator with a 30-day ceasefire deal agreed earlier this week.
Appearing on Russian state television dressed in a pixilated uniform, Putin visited a military control center and held a meeting at a command post for the Kursk troops. The Russian leader heard a report from Valery Gerasimov, head of the Russian General Staff, who told him that Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region were now surrounded.
“It’s systematic destruction is underway,” Gerasimov said.
Online maps indicate that Russia has won back control over Sudzha, a key town and transport hub for the region that has become a milestone of Russia’s counteroffensive.
Ukraine’s top army commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said fighting continues on the outskirts of the town and added that Kyiv’s troops will continue operations in the region “as long as appropriate and necessary.”
Speaking to TVP World earlier on Wednesday, Milan Lelich, a political analyst and deputy editor for news agency RBC-Ukraine, predicted that capturing Sudzha would be used as a major propaganda victory for Putin and could be leveraged in any future peace negotiations.
Lelich said: “But for me, it is unclear if they will be able to really so swiftly push our forces out of the entire region fully.” Putin said Russian forces should complete driving the Ukrainian troops from the last pocket of territory they still hold as soon as possible, news agencies reported.
He added that Russia should treat Ukrainian soldiers captured as prisoners of war in Kursk Region as terrorists.
“People who are in the Kursk region, who commit crimes against civilians here, who oppose our armed forces, law enforcement agencies and special services, [...] are people we should certainly treat as terrorists,” Putin said, adding that Russia does not intend to extend the Geneva Conventions to foreigners fighting on Ukraine’s side.
Lelich said: “But for me, it is unclear if they will be able to really so swiftly push our forces out of the entire region fully.” Putin said Russian forces should complete driving the Ukrainian troops from the last pocket of territory they still hold as soon as possible, news agencies reported.
He added that Russia should treat Ukrainian soldiers captured as prisoners of war in Kursk Region as terrorists.
“People who are in the Kursk region, who commit crimes against civilians here, who oppose our armed forces, law enforcement agencies and special services, [...] are people we should certainly treat as terrorists,” Putin said, adding that Russia does not intend to extend the Geneva Conventions to foreigners fighting on Ukraine’s side.
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