President Vladimir Putin paid a visit to Russia’s Kursk region on Wednesday, as reported by the Russian Presidential Press Service/AP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied claims made by Russian forces that Ukrainian troops were surrounded in the Kursk region, accusing Putin of deception regarding the situation on the ground.
In August, Ukraine initiated a sudden incursion into Kursk, swiftly gaining control of territory in what marked the first ground invasion of Russia since World War II. The aim of the campaign was to divert Russian resources from the eastern front lines and secure land that could potentially be exchanged for Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.
Despite facing setbacks in Kursk, Zelensky and military experts have cast doubt on Putin’s assertions, supported by US President Donald Trump, that Ukrainian soldiers are encircled by Russian forces. Putin claimed that Russian troops had cut off Ukrainian forces in Kursk, leaving them with no option but to surrender or face death.
Trump later echoed Putin’s claims, stating that thousands of Ukrainian troops were surrounded by Russian forces and in a precarious position. He appealed to Putin to spare their lives to prevent a catastrophic outcome reminiscent of World War II.
Despite these claims, the Institute for the Study of War, a US-based conflict monitor, found no evidence to support the encirclement of Ukrainian troops in Kursk or elsewhere along the frontlines. Ukrainian military officials dismissed the encirclement reports as fabricated by Russia for political manipulation.
Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian troops in Kursk were effectively carrying out their duties and repelling Russian and North Korean forces. He acknowledged a Russian troop buildup in Ukraine’s eastern regions but maintained that Ukrainian units were not encircled.
President Putin has claimed that there is an intention to attack the Sumy region bordering Kursk. The Sumy military administration reported heavy shelling targeting towns and villages near the border. Despite reports of Ukraine losing territory in Kursk, there is dispute over whether Moscow has completely surrounded Kyiv’s forces. The ISW believes Putin is using dubious claims about Ukrainian troops in Kursk to distract from his response to the US-backed ceasefire proposal. Kyiv has agreed to the proposal, while Putin’s response has been ambiguous, initially stating agreement before later claiming it was incomplete. The ISW accuses Putin of trying to paint himself as a reasonable leader to distract from Russia’s refusal to agree to the ceasefire proposal. While there are doubts about claims of Ukrainian troops being surrounded, there is evidence that Ukraine is retreating in the region. Russian forces reportedly recaptured Sudzha, a key town previously held by Ukraine, further weakening Kyiv’s position in negotiations. Russia’s Defense Ministry shared a video showing the aftermath of capturing Sudzha, with destroyed buildings, debris-filled roads, and casualties. The ministry continues to report defeating Ukrainian formations in Kursk but has not mentioned any encirclement. Ukraine’s General Staff reported clashes with Russian troops and numerous air strikes and guided bombs launched by Moscow.
