Russian army says Kursk fully freed from Ukraine
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Russian forces have fully cleared Kursk region of Ukrainian troops as Putin hails victory and prepares for further advances into Ukraine's Sumy region with North Korean support.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin hears from Gen. Valery Gerasimov that Ukrainian troops have been pushed out of Russia's Kursk region, during a videoconference meeting on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP)
The Russian army has fully cleared the Kursk region of Ukrainian forces, Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov reported to President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, marking a significant development in the Russian army Ukraine conflict.
Kiev had initially aimed to use territory in the Kursk region as leverage in future negotiations, but Russia, which has taken control of regions of the Donbass has now taken full control.
"Today, the last settlement in the Kursk region, the village of Gornal, has been liberated from Ukrainian forces," Gerasimov said in a video conference, delivering the Valery Gerasimov report directly to Putin.
"The Kiev regime's adventure has completely failed," Putin responded, expressing his gratitude to Russian soldiers for their role in the Kursk region's liberation. He emphasized that the recapture of Kursk would enable further Russian advances on other parts of the front.
Russian troops, now stationed at the border, are preparing to increase pressure on Ukraine's Sumy region, directly adjacent to Kursk. Moscow has already launched attacks in the Sumy region in recent weeks, and a broader Sumy region offensive is expected.
Gerasimov praised the role of North Korean soldiers in the operation, stating they "played a crucial role in overwhelming the Ukrainian armed forces group." The involvement of North Korean soldiers in Russia has drawn attention from international observers.
South Korean and Western intelligence claim that over 10,000 North Korean troops were deployed to assist Moscow last year, contributing significantly to countering Ukraine's unexpected offensive in the Kursk region. Putin hailed this cooperation as essential to the defeat of Ukrainian forces and reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Kursk region liberation for future campaigns.
Reuters in late March reported on growing uncertainty and debate in Ukraine following its military withdrawal from Russia's Kursk region, a bold cross-border incursion that, while initially successful, has come at a heavy cost for some Ukrainian families and soldiers.
Ukraine's military General Staff stated that the offensive into Kursk aimed to increase pressure on Moscow, prevent cross-border attacks, and divert Russian forces from other fronts. The operation, they claimed, "achieved most of its goals."
The surprise assault in August 2024 marked the largest incursion into Russian territory since World War II. Ukrainian forces captured over 1,300 square kilometers of land, advancing largely unopposed in the early stages. However, as the operation progressed, the offensive force struggled with logistics and troop numbers.
