Russia said it had retaken the biggest city in its Kursk border region on Thursday, driving the Ukrainian army out of the fiercely contested territory as ceasefire talks continue.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense asserted early Thursday that its troops — including some diverted from the front lines elsewhere inside Ukraine — had retaken the town of Sudzha following a new offensive. Ukrainian forces seized a sizable chunk of the Russian border region in a surprise offensive last summer, and their continued presence inside Russian territory has been a source of continuing embarrassment for the Kremlin.
The Ukraine occupation of the region marked the first instance of a foreign occupation force on Russian soil since World War II.
Ukrainian military officials have not denied or verified Russia’s claim. However, Ukrainian Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed Wednesday that Russian planes were carrying out offensive strikes in Kursk, adding that the region had been mostly destroyed. He said Kyiv was moving its forces to “more advantageous lines.”
Russia’s assertion comes after President Vladimir Putin visited troops in the Kursk region on Wednesday. Mr. Putin’s visit highlights the strategic significance of reclaiming the border territory. Since August, Russia’s military has actively engaged in offensive operations in the area to reclaim the territory.
Addressing his commanders in Kursk Wednesday, Mr. Putin said he expected the Russian military to “free” the Kursk region soon. He added that Russia is considering building a border security zone in the region, a concept that could inflame tensions during ceasefire negotiations.
The U.S. officially lifted its pause on military aid to Ukraine on Tuesday following progress made in peace talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials held in Saudi Arabia. The next day, President Trump said that the ball was in Russia’s court as he pressed for a ceasefire.
However, Russian officials, including Mr. Putin, argue that a ceasefire would only afford a temporary break for Ukraine’s military, benefiting their enemy and its allies. Mr. Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said in televised remarks Thursday that Russia is holding out for a long-lasting peace deal that will take into account “Moscow’s interest and concerns.”
The potential loss of control in the Kursk region could mean the loss of a bargaining chip for Ukraine during peace talks. Those talks are ongoing, with the White House confirming Mr. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, landed in Moscow on Thursday to hold talks with Russian leaders.
