President Vladimir Putin unexpectedly visited a command post in Kursk in the war zone after the successful counter-offensive of the Russian army in the Russia-Ukraine border area.
Russian state news agency TASS reported on March 12 that Mr. Putin ordered the Russian army to push the remaining Ukrainian units out of Kursk province.
Photos of President Vladimir Putin's meeting with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov show Mr. Putin wearing military uniforms.
According to TASS, this is the first time Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited the Kursk front area.
In August 2024, Ukrainian units suddenly attacked Russian territory, for the first time shifting the direction of combat to neighboring territory.
The Ukrainian army has been stationed in Kursk for a long time but has recently had to retreat faster under pressure from Russia.
On March 12, the Russian military announced that it had captured the capital Sudzha, which had been the backbone of Ukraine's offensive in Kursk for the past 7 months. However, this area has not been completely cleared.
According to the Russian military chief of staff, Ukraine attacked Kursk to create a position at the negotiation table with Russia. The offensive into Kursk is also aimed at curbing Russia's activities in Ukraine. "But these intentions of the opponent have completely failed," Gerasimov said.
Gerasimov also added that 430 Ukrainian soldiers were arrested near Kursk.
