Putin Visits Kursk After Russian Troop Victory Claim/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Vladimir Putin visited Russia’s Kursk region after claiming Ukrainian troops were expelled. Ukraine disputes full Russian control, saying clashes continue near the border. The visit underscores ongoing tensions amid rejected ceasefire proposals.
Putin in Kursk: Quick Looks
- Putin made an unannounced visit to Kursk region on Tuesday, Kremlin confirmed Wednesday.
- Russia claimed in April it had fully retaken Kursk from Ukrainian control.
- Ukraine’s military disputes that, saying its troops repelled 13 Russian attacks this week.
- U.S., Ukraine, and South Korea say 12,000 North Korean troops helped Russia regain the area.
- Putin visited Kursk Nuclear Power Plant-2 and met volunteers behind closed doors.
- Volunteers wore gear marked with “Z” and “V” symbols of Russia’s invasion.
- Putin praised them, calling their efforts “the most meaningful” of their lives.
- Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk last year was a historic and strategic surprise.
- Putin endorsed ongoing compensation payments and a museum honoring regional defenders.
- Russian military reported 159 Ukrainian drones shot down overnight.
- Russian strikes on Ukraine killed at least two civilians in Sumy and injured more.
Deep Look: Putin Visits Contested Kursk Region as Ukraine Resists
KURSK, Russia – May 21, 2025 — President Vladimir Putin paid a surprise visit to the Russian border region of Kursk on Tuesday, his first trip there since Moscow announced last month it had expelled Ukrainian forces. But despite the Kremlin’s claims of control, Ukrainian resistance reportedly continues inside the region.
The Kremlin confirmed the visit Wednesday, part of an ongoing effort to project Russian dominance in its prolonged war with Ukraine. The timing comes amid renewed diplomatic calls for a ceasefire, which Putin has dismissed, and growing criticism over Russian military tactics.
A Contested Region, Still in Conflict
Kursk had become a flashpoint in the three-year war when, in August 2024, Ukrainian forces launched a surprise incursion—the first time an invading army held Russian territory since World War II.
Though Russia declared victory on April 26, the Ukrainian Army General Staff reported Wednesday that 13 Russian assaults were repelled in the region and its own troops remain engaged on a thin stretch of Russian land along the border.
A military map released by Ukraine shows a narrow Ukrainian-held corridor still inside Kursk.
Putin’s Messaging Tour
Putin visited the under-construction Kursk Nuclear Power Plant-2 and held a private meeting with volunteers, many dressed in clothes bearing the Russian flag and war symbols “Z” and “V.”
“What you are doing now… will remain with you for the rest of your life,” Putin told them over tea, referring to their involvement in Russia’s war effort.
The symbolic appearance, captured by state media, echoed Putin’s attempts to assure domestic audiences that the Kremlin remains in control—despite high casualty counts, equipment losses, and diplomatic strain.
International Tensions and Rejected Ceasefires
The visit comes just weeks after international efforts—led by the U.S. and European Union—proposed a new ceasefire framework. Those offers were brushed off by Moscow, which has remained focused on its strategic aims.
Putin’s appearance was also likely aimed at countering skepticism surrounding the use of North Korean troops, with officials from Ukraine, the U.S., and South Korea reporting that up to 12,000 North Korean soldiers helped Russia retake Kursk.
Kremlin’s Public Relations Push
During the trip, Putin endorsed continuing monthly payments for displaced families in Kursk and supported a local proposal to build a war museum honoring both military and civilian efforts in the region.
“The heroism of our defenders and the region’s residents must be preserved,” said acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein, who accompanied Putin.
The region had seen rare protests earlier this year by residents demanding more support after evacuations and property damage.
Drone Warfare and Civilian Casualties Mount
While Putin toured Kursk, Russian air defenses reportedly downed 159 Ukrainian drones overnight—53 over the Oryol region and 51 in Bryansk. These are among the highest drone interception numbers reported in a single night.
In retaliation, Russia launched 76 Shahed drones and decoys toward Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities say:
- In Sumy, two civilians were killed and five wounded.
- In Kyiv region, debris from an intercepted drone injured four members of one family.
War’s Strategic Calculations
Ukraine’s brief control of territory inside Russia was a logistical feat, conducted in secrecy and meant to expose Russian vulnerabilities and draw forces away from Donetsk, a focal point of Russian military pressure.
But analysts warned it stretched Ukrainian forces thin and did not significantly alter the war’s broader trajectory.
Still, the incursion was a blow to the Kremlin’s narrative of strength, and Putin’s presence in Kursk now may be intended to reinforce national morale as much as territorial claims.
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