What’s happening in Russia’s Kursk region and why does it matter?
Russian forces are on the verge of pushing Ukrainian troops out of Russia's Kursk region, reclaiming territory seized by Ukraine last August. This marks a significant shift after months of intense fighting, during which Ukrainian forces held a portion of Russian land bordering the Sumy region of Ukraine.
Ukraine's initial capture of the territory in August was a major surprise and morale boost, representing their most significant gains since late 2022. However, Russian troops, with support from North Korea, have since regained nearly 90% of the area. President Putin's recent visit to Kursk and his order to "finish the job" underscores Russia's determination to fully reclaim the region, though Ukraine's commander insists they will continue operations in the area as needed. While the captured territory was a small fraction of what Russia holds in Ukraine, it initially served as a potential bargaining chip for Zelensky, who suggested it could be traded for Ukrainian land under Russian control.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Russian forces are on the verge of pushing Ukrainian troops out of Russia's Kursk region, reclaiming territory seized by Ukraine last August. This marks a significant shift after months of intense fighting, during which Ukrainian forces held a portion of Russian land bordering the Sumy region of Ukraine.
Ukraine's initial capture of the territory in August was a major surprise and morale boost, representing their most significant gains since late 2022. However, Russian troops, with support from North Korea, have since regained nearly 90% of the area. President Putin's recent visit to Kursk and his order to "finish the job" underscores Russia's determination to fully reclaim the region, though Ukraine's commander insists they will continue operations in the area as needed. While the captured territory was a small fraction of what Russia holds in Ukraine, it initially served as a potential bargaining chip for Zelensky, who suggested it could be traded for Ukrainian land under Russian control.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
