Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kursk region for the first time since the Ukrainian Armed Forces began operations in the area, TASS reports.
Command meeting and military reports
On March 12, Putin held a meeting at one of the command posts of the Kursk troops group. The Kremlin did not provide information on the exact location of the meeting.
Dressed in white camouflage, Putin listened to a report from the Chief of the General Staff of Russia, Valery Gerasimov. The "Russia-24" television channel broadcast videos from the meeting.
Gerasimov reported that Russian troops had captured more than 1,000 square kilometers in the Kursk region. According to him, 24 settlements were liberated in the last five days, and Russian forces have also entered the Sumy region.
Gerasimov emphasized that the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region have been "isolated" and that operations to eliminate them are ongoing. According to the Russian General Staff, the Ukrainian army has lost more than 67,000 military personnel in the region.
Putin's statement and security issues
Putin tasked the military with "destroying the enemy in a short time and fully liberating the Kursk region." He noted that in the future, it will be necessary to think about creating a security zone along the Russian state border.
Additionally, Putin stated that all captured Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region should be treated as "terrorists," adding:
“We must first and foremost treat these individuals as terrorists based on Russian laws. We treat all people humanely, and this should continue in the future. At the same time, I remind you that foreign mercenaries do not fall under the 1949 Geneva Convention.”
Ukrainian offensive and territory reclamation
In August 2024, the Ukrainian Armed Forces captured several settlements in the Kursk region. After the U.S. stopped providing intelligence to Ukraine, in March, Russian forces reclaimed part of these territories.
On March 12, videos emerged on pro-war Telegram channels in Russia showing soldiers installing the Russian flag in the Sudja center. Ruslan Leviyev, founder of the Conflict Intelligence Team investigation project, reported that the city of Sudja has almost completely come under Russian control and that the Ukrainian army is leaving the area without a fight.
Vladimir Putin's visit to the Kursk region may signify a new phase in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. While Russian troops continue to regain control of territories, the Ukrainian army is expected to reassess its strategy. These processes could further complicate the military-political situation in the region.
