Putin Visits Troops in Kursk, Orders Swift Offensive Amid Ukraine Retreat

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to troops in the Kursk region, ordering them to press forward and reclaim remaining territory from Ukrainian forces. His visit followed Washington's request for a 30-day ceasefire proposal backed by Ukraine.

After holding ground in Kursk for over seven months, Ukrainian forces have suffered setbacks, with key supply lines cut and Russian troops recapturing a vast area, including the town of Sudzha. Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov stated that over 86% of the previously occupied land—1,100 square kilometers—had been retaken, including 24 settlements and 259 square kilometers in the past five days. More than 400 Ukrainian soldiers were captured.

Putin hinted at creating a buffer zone inside Ukraine’s Sumy region to prevent future incursions and declared that foreign fighters captured in Kursk wouldn’t receive Geneva Convention protections. He also stated that Ukrainian soldiers taken in Kursk would be treated as "terrorists."

Despite these losses, Ukrainian forces continue striking Russian positions in Sudzha. Ukraine’s top commander confirmed that troops will operate in Kursk as long as necessary. However, military sources suggest Ukrainian troops may fully withdraw from the region by Friday.

Videos verified by Russian media showed Russian troops raising the tricolor flag in Sudzha’s town square, a former Ukrainian supply route. Meanwhile, Deep State, a Ukrainian military tracking site, updated its map to reflect Russia’s advances, confirming Ukrainian forces had lost control of Sudzha but were still fighting in its outskirts.

While Ukraine’s initial Kursk operation aimed to pressure Russia into diverting troops from the eastern front, Gerasimov stated that strategy had failed. Russian forces have now expanded into Sumy, strengthening their defensive perimeter.