Russia’s President Vladimir Putin visited the border region of Kursk for the first time since Russian forces ejected Ukrainian troops from the area last month. The visit comes as tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalate, with at least six Ukrainian servicemen killed in a missile strike on Tuesday.
The Kremlin said Putin met volunteer organisations in Kursk and inspected a nuclear power plant during his “working visit”. However, the region has been under intense attack by Ukrainian forces in recent months, which led to Russian forces claiming they had ejected the troops in late April.
Ukrainian forces made a bold incursion into the Kursk region in August 2024, occupying nearly 1,400 square kilometers of Russian territory. The conflict has seen Russian forces largely gain the upper hand since the end of 2023, with the exception of the Kursk region.
The visit by Putin comes amidst a series of developments that suggest Moscow is under pressure to agree to a ceasefire. European diplomats have been pushing for Russia to present a truce outline within days, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he expected Russia to show seriousness about a ceasefire soon.
In Ukraine, the national guard reported six servicemen killed and 10 others wounded in the missile strike on Tuesday. The incident is currently under investigation, with the commander of the military unit suspended and law enforcement agencies informed.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/21/russias-putin-visits-kursk-as-ukraine-says-six-killed-in-missile-strike