Putin Makes Surprise Visit To Kursk, Asks Army To Retake Area From Ukrainian Troops

Last Updated:March 13, 2025, 07:08 IST

President Putin visited Russian troops in Kursk, urging them to reclaim territory from Ukraine. Russian forces recaptured areas, capturing 430 Ukrainian soldiers.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Reuters Image)

President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to Russian troops in the western Kursk region on Wednesday, donning military fatigues and instructing them to intensify their advance to reclaim the remaining territory from Ukrainian forces swiftly.

This visit followed a request from Washington for Putin to consider a 30-day ceasefire proposal supported by Ukraine, and it came after Russian forces had recaptured significant areas in Kursk, forcing Ukrainian troops to retreat and cede control of the town of Sudzha.

Kursk is the only Russian province where Ukraine has managed to gain any foothold during the ongoing conflict. Amid the continued fighting, Russian forces entered the Sumy region, which lies within the broader Kursk region, as reported by Army General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, to President Putin, according to state agency TASS.

Gerasimov reported that around 430 Ukrainian soldiers had been taken prisoner in the Kursk region. “Recognising the futility of further resistance, the Ukrainian military began surrendering. A total of 430 fighters were captured," he said.

He also informed President Putin that, over the past five days, Russian forces had liberated 24 settlements and reclaimed 259 square kilometres of territory in the Kursk region. “In just five days, the Kursk Battlegroup has retaken 24 settlements and 259 square kilometres of territory in all directions," Gerasimov said, as quoted by TASS.

Meanwhile, following peace talks in Jeddah, Ukraine expressed its readiness to accept the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. The United States also agreed to immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine. Both sides agreed to form negotiating teams and commence talks aimed at securing long-term peace and ensuring Ukraine’s security. The US committed to discussing these proposals directly with Russia, while Ukraine emphasised the importance of involving European partners in the peace process.

US President Donald Trump welcomed Ukraine’s acceptance of the ceasefire proposal, highlighting the need to end the “horrible war" and the importance of halting further loss of life among Russian and Ukrainian soldiers. He expressed hope that Russia would also agree to the ceasefire.

(With inputs from Reuters and ANI)

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