Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kursk region for the first time since Moscow declared full control over it. Russian state media reported the visit on Wednesday.
Last year, Ukrainian troops made a sudden entry into Kursk, marking the first time since World War II that a foreign military had entered Russian land. However, Russia claimed to have retaken the region recently with help from North Korean soldiers.
Putin Meets Local Officials and Reviews Power Plant Project
During his trip, Putin stopped in the city of Kurchatov. There, he met with local officials and also visited the Kursk nuclear power plant, which is still under construction. According to TASS news agency, the Kremlin confirmed these visits. Russian state media shared a video showing Putin wearing a suit and talking with what appeared to be local volunteers.
Ukrainian Forces Still Active Near Border
Putin said that Ukrainian troops were still trying to reach the Russian border. As RIA Novosti reported, he also ordered more demining units to be deployed in Kursk so that displaced residents could return safely. A Kremlin video showed that Putin’s visit took place on Tuesday.
Russia and Ukraine Continue Cross-Border Battles
Although Russia announced last month that it had retaken Kursk, Ukraine continues to push forward. Kyiv wants to hold on to the area, hoping it could be used as leverage in any future peace talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated, “We are continuing our active operations in the Kursk and Belgorod regions – we are proactively defending Ukraine’s border areas.” He made this statement during his nightly speech last Wednesday.
Putin Talks to Trump, But Refuses 30-Day Ceasefire
On Monday, Putin spoke with former U.S. President Donald Trump. However, he did not agree to a 30-day ceasefire plan proposed by Washington and Kyiv. According to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, Putin mentioned the possibility of a temporary ceasefire but did not set any specific timeline. He said the Kremlin was open to discussing “a possible ceasefire for a certain period of time.”
EU Sanctions and Drone Strikes Escalate Tensions
Following the call, the European Union announced new sanctions. These targeted nearly 200 ships from Russia’s “shadow fleet” that export oil while bypassing Western restrictions. Meanwhile, both Russia and Ukraine blamed each other for drone attacks that took place overnight. Ukraine claimed it destroyed 63 out of 76 long-range drones launched by Russia. In response, Russia said it had shot down 159 Ukrainian drones over its own territory.