Russia’s armed forces have claimed to recapture the city of Sudzha, the largest city in the Kursk region. Last year, Ukraine took control of this city through guerrilla attacks. On Thursday (March 12), Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced that the northern military group had liberated the towns of Melovoye, Podol, and Sudzha.
The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated that field footage confirms Russian forces have taken Sudzha and advanced northwest toward Zawleshenka. While Sudzha is a small town with a pre-war population of about 5,000, it was one of the key cities under Ukrainian control.
This development comes as U.S. Special Envoy Steve Whitcoff arrived in Moscow on Thursday to present a 30-day ceasefire proposal, which Ukraine has already agreed to. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that all Ukrainian-occupied areas of the Kursk region would soon be liberated. He reiterated President Vladimir Putin’s directive to complete the operation as soon as possible while prioritizing the safety of Russian troops and civilians.
On Wednesday, President Putin visited the Kursk region. In a televised address, he stated that Moscow’s goal is the complete liberation of the region.
Last August, Ukraine launched a surprise offensive in the Kursk region, marking the first time since World War II that Ukrainian forces seized Russian territory. The move aimed to gain leverage for territorial negotiations and divert Russian resources from eastern Ukraine. However, Ukraine has struggled to maintain control over the occupied areas.
Ukraine’s top general, Oleksandr Syrskyi, confirmed that Russian airstrikes had nearly destroyed Sudzha. As conditions became unfavorable, Ukrainian troops were withdrawn from Kursk. President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the intense pressure from Russian forces and stated that military commanders were prioritizing troop survival.
Russia’s top general, Valery Gerasimov, claimed that Russian forces have retaken over 86% of previously Ukrainian-occupied territory, captured 430 Ukrainian soldiers, and encircled the remaining Ukrainian troops.