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Russian forces have reclaimed Sudzha, the largest town Ukraine once occupied in Russia’s Kursk region, Moscow announced on Thursday.
This development threatens Kyiv’s last territorial leverage amid increasing pressure to negotiate an end to the war.
According to the Russian defence ministry, the North military group successfully retook Sudzha alongside Melovoy and Podol during its latest offensive.
“In the course of the offensive operations, units of the North military group liberated the settlements of Melovoy, Podol and Sudzha,” the Russian defense ministry said Thursday.
The announcement came just hours after President Vladimir Putin, clad in military fatigues, visited frontline troops in Kursk, vowing to “completely liberate” the region.
The move comes as US officials push for a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine has accepted. President Donald Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, stated that “it’s up to Russia now” to decide on the truce, while his administration prepares to send envoys to Moscow for further negotiations.
The White House has also hinted at potential sanctions if Russia refuses to engage in peace talks.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that US representatives were en route to Russia but refused to disclose Moscow’s stance before formal discussions begin.
The battle for Sudzha has been part of a larger struggle, with Ukraine launching an incursion into Kursk last August, marking the first foreign occupation of Russian territory since World War II. However, Ukrainian forces have faced relentless attacks, including heavy Russian airstrikes.
Ukraine’s top general, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated that Sudzha had been nearly destroyed by Russian aviation, though he did not confirm whether Ukrainian forces had fully withdrawn.
Meanwhile, Maj.-Gen. Dmytro Krasylnykov, commander of Ukraine’s Northern Operational Command, was unexpectedly dismissed from his post on Wednesday, further adding to the uncertainty.
