Putin Declares End of Ukrainian Incursion in Russia's Kursk Region

 

Putin Declares End of Ukrainian Incursion in Russia's Kursk Region

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Saturday that the offensive by Ukrainian forces into Russia's Kursk region has been fully repelled, following the expulsion of the last Ukrainian troops from the village of Gornal. This development marks what Putin described as a "complete failure" of Ukraine's operation, which began last August when Ukrainian forces seized a significant portion of territory in the Kursk region, catching Russia off guard.

In a statement following a report from Russia’s military chief, Valery Gerasimov, Putin emphasized that the defeat of Ukrainian forces opens up opportunities for further Russian advances, stating, "The full defeat of the enemy in the Kursk border region creates conditions for further successful actions by our forces on other important parts of the front." Gerasimov credited North Korean troops for their significant contributions alongside Russian soldiers during the conflict, although Ukrainian officials reported heavy casualties among the North Korean forces.

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Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had anticipated that reclaiming Russian territory would strengthen Ukraine’s position in future peace negotiations. Zelenskiy met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Rome, where they discussed the ongoing conflict. Trump is reportedly urging Zelenskiy to consider ceding some Ukrainian territory as part of a broader effort to end the three-year war, which has inflicted widespread destruction and loss of life across Ukraine.