Overview

• President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the Kursk region since Russia declared its recapture from Ukrainian forces.
• During his visit, Putin met with municipal leaders in Kurchatov and toured the under-construction Kursk nuclear power plant.
• Ukraine launched a surprise incursion into Kursk in August 2024, marking the first foreign ground invasion of Russian territory since World War II.
• Despite Moscow's claims of full control, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that active operations continue in both Kursk and Belgorod regions.
• The ongoing conflict underscores Kursk's strategic and symbolic significance, with both sides viewing the region as critical leverage in potential peace talks.