Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Saturday that Russian forces have regained full control of the Kursk region, the border area where Ukraine had launched a bold offensive last year.
However, Ukraine’s military quickly pushed back on those claims, saying that battles are still ongoing.
The Kursk region has been a flashpoint since Ukraine’s surprise move into Russian territory in August, marking the first ground assault on Russia by a foreign army since World War II. Putin praised the Russian forces for their actions, saying the success in Kursk could open the door for further military advances. Still, Ukraine’s Armed Forces stated that the situation remains difficult and that their soldiers continue to fight and hold their positions.
Reports from the battlefield are hard to verify, but both armies have been locked in a tough struggle with little movement across other parts of the front. Ukraine had hoped to keep control of the territory in Kursk, using it as a bargaining chip for future peace talks, while also easing pressure on its battered eastern defenses. The loss of this ground could deal a major blow to Kyiv’s military morale and political strength after three years of grinding war.
Russia’s campaign in Kursk has been bolstered by about 12,000 North Korean soldiers, according to Ukrainian officials and Western intelligence. Russia’s top military leader, Valery Gerasimov, publicly thanked the North Korean troops for their role, calling their actions brave and professional. Russian teams are now clearing mines and checking abandoned buildings for any remaining Ukrainian fighters as they move to restore normal life in the region.
The conflict over Kursk unfolds at a time when efforts to reach a peace deal have been slow. In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump has been pushing to restart negotiations, though tensions among the leaders have complicated the process. Trump recently accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of blocking progress by refusing to make concessions over Crimea, while also suggesting that Russia and Ukraine were getting closer to a deal.
Earlier Saturday, during the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican, Trump and Zelensky briefly met for talks. The White House described the meeting as productive, and Zelensky later expressed hope that it could lead to a major breakthrough.
Despite these moments of cautious optimism, new threats emerged. Hours after the meeting, Trump warned of the possibility of new sanctions on Russia following fresh missile strikes on Kyiv, criticizing Putin’s latest attacks on civilian areas.
As battles rage on the ground and diplomatic efforts struggle to take hold, the war shows few signs of ending soon. Both sides are preparing for the next phase, with Kursk becoming another crucial piece in a much larger struggle.