Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited the Kursk region for the first time since Ukraine’s 2024 incursion, ordering his military to “fully liberate” the area and treat Ukrainian soldiers like “terrorists”.
Ukraine captured a 1100sq km area of Kursk in August, with Russia claiming that area had now been taken back.
Mr Putin, wearing camouflage, visited the area on Wednesday local time, meeting military officials in a command post.
“Our task in the near future is to finally defeat the enemy, who has dug in on the territory of the Kursk region and is conducting military operations here, in the shortest possible time,” Mr Putin said at a command post in the border region.
Later, in a televised speech, Mr Putin said his army would “fully liberate” the Kursk region “from the enemy”.
“I am counting on the fact that all the combat tasks facing our units will be fulfilled, and the territory of the Kursk region will soon be completely liberated from the enemy,”
Russia claims to have captured around 430 Ukrainian soldiers, with Mr Putin saying they will be “treated as terrorists, in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation.”
Ukraine army commander Oleksandr Syrsky said soldiers will continue to fight in the area, however, suggest they had been moved to save lives.
“In the most difficult situation, my priority has been and remains saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers,” he said.
“To this end, the units of the defence forces, if necessary, manoeuvre to more favourable positions.”
Mr Putin’s visit comes as US President Donald Trump confirmed officials are on their way to Moscow in hope of securing a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Mr Trump warned Russia of “devastating” consequences if an agreement was not reached.
Mr Trump spoke to reporters in the Oval Office after Ukraine agreed to accept an immediate 30-day ceasefire in the conflict with Russia during talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia.
“Hopefully, we can get a ceasefire from Russia,” Mr Trump said.
“If we do, I think that would be 80 per cent of the way to getting this horrible blood bath finished.”
In another display of Mr Trump’s “peace through strength” strategy, the president warned that Russia could face “devastating” consequences if the country does not agree to the ceasefire.
“There are things you can do that wouldn’t be pleasant in a financial sense. I can do things financially,” Trump says.
“It would be very bad for Russia. I don’t want to do that, because I want to get peace.
“In a financial sense, we could do things that would be very bad for Russia.
“It would be devastating.
“We’re getting close to maybe getting something done,” Mr Trump.