Russia has announced it has regained full control of the western Kursk region, eight months after Ukrainian forces launched a surprise incursion. Top Russian commander Valery Gerasimov declared that the village of Gornal, the last Ukrainian-held settlement, had been “liberated,” a claim immediately dismissed by Ukraine as “propaganda tricks.”
During a video call with President Vladimir Putin, Gerasimov praised the “heroism” of North Korean troops who reportedly supported Russian forces in Kursk the first official acknowledgment of North Korean involvement in the conflict. Putin hailed Ukraine’s efforts in Kursk as a “complete failure” and suggested it would pave the way for further Russian advances.
However, Ukraine insists its forces are still operating in the region. In a statement on Telegram, Ukraine’s military described the battlefield situation as “difficult” but affirmed that Ukrainian troops remain active both in Kursk and the neighboring Belgorod region.
The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on April 25 that Russian forces had made advances near the international border in Kursk but confirmed that fighting continued in Belgorod.
Ukraine’s original incursion into Kursk, launched last August, aimed to create a buffer zone to prevent Russian deployments along the eastern front. Ukrainian forces faced overwhelming resistance, including around 70,000 Russian troops and heavy drone strikes.
The developments come amid renewed diplomatic activity. US President Donald Trump claimed that Russia and Ukraine were “very close to a deal” following meetings between his envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin. Yet Trump expressed skepticism about Putin’s willingness to end the war, especially after Russian missile attacks on Kyiv killed 12 people earlier this week.
Following a meeting with Trump at the Vatican, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the importance of a “full and unconditional ceasefire” before any peace deal. Zelensky has repeatedly rejected U.S. suggestions that Ukraine make territorial concessions, including giving up Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014.
Ukraine had hoped its advances in Kursk could serve as leverage in future negotiations. With the region now seemingly slipping from its grasp, Kyiv faces new challenges in shaping the course of any eventual peace talks.
