Putin Makes First Visit to Kursk Since Ukrainian Forces Were Pushed Out — As Russian Strike Kills Six in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a high-profile visit to the Kursk region, marking his first trip there since Russian forces repelled Ukrainian troops from the area. The Kremlin reported that Putin met with local volunteer organizations and toured a nuclear power plant during the visit.
This development follows Putin’s announcement late last month that Ukrainian forces had been expelled from Kursk, ending what was described as the largest cross-border assault on Russian soil since World War II. The Ukrainian incursion, which began in August 2023, saw Kyiv’s forces break through the border using advanced Western-supplied weaponry and drone swarms, at one point occupying nearly 1,400 square kilometers (540 square miles) of Russian territory.
Russia’s Defense Ministry stated on Wednesday that more than 159 Ukrainian drones were intercepted across Russian airspace, with most downed in western regions. At least six drones were reportedly shot down over the Moscow region, raising fresh concerns over aerial threats to major urban centers.
Putin’s visit coincided with a deadly missile strike in Ukraine’s Sumy region. According to Ukraine’s National Guard, a Russian attack on a training facility killed six Ukrainian soldiers and injured ten others. In response, the unit’s commander has been suspended, and an internal investigation is now underway.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that the strike killed up to 70 Ukrainian troops, including 20 instructors—a figure disputed by Ukrainian officials.
The renewed violence comes just days after former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly urged both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to resume ceasefire negotiations. However, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius dismissed the effectiveness of Trump’s outreach, stating that it yielded no tangible progress toward peace.
In response to the ongoing conflict, European nations have announced a fresh wave of sanctions targeting Russia. Pistorius noted that it remains unclear whether the United States will join these new punitive measures.
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