Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Saturday that Russian forces had expelled the last Ukrainian troops from the Kursk border region, calling Ukraine's surprise offensive a "complete failure." Ukraine's military, however, rejected the claim, saying fighting continues in the area.
Speaking in a Kremlin-released video, Putin praised his forces for recapturing Kursk territory seized by Ukraine last August in what was the first foreign ground incursion into Russia since World War II. "The full defeat of the enemy in the Kursk border region creates conditions for further successful actions by our forces on other important parts of the front," Putin said.
General Valery Gerasimov, chief of Russia's General Staff, told Putin that the last village held by Ukrainian forces, Gornal, had been "liberated from Ukrainian units." Gerasimov also thanked North Korean troops for their assistance, praising their "high professionalism, steadfastness, courage and heroism in battle." Ukrainian and Western intelligence estimate North Korea deployed up to 14,000 soldiers to support Russia in the conflict.
Ukraine's General Staff countered Putin's assertion, stating in a Telegram post that "the defensive operation of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the designated areas in Kursk region continues. The operational situation is difficult, but our units continue to hold their positions and perform their assigned tasks." CNN and other outlets said they could not independently verify battlefield developments.
Ukraine had hoped its operation in Kursk would offer leverage in eventual peace talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had invested significant resources to retain a foothold in Russian territory, viewing it as a bargaining chip amid increasing international pressure for a negotiated settlement.
The developments come as diplomatic efforts intensified over the weekend. U.S. President Donald Trump and Zelensky met briefly Saturday during the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican. A White House spokesperson described their conversation as "very productive," and Zelensky posted on X that the meeting "has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results."
Tensions between Trump, Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin remain high. Trump said Friday that Russia and Ukraine are "very close to a deal" to end the conflict but also criticized Zelensky for making peace talks "so difficult" by refusing to concede Russian control over Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014.
Russia's announcement that it now controls the entire Kursk region marks a potential setback for Kyiv's negotiating position as Trump administration officials push for a diplomatic breakthrough. Ukraine's forces face continued pressure along multiple frontlines amid shortages of equipment and personnel, while Russia's military campaigns are being bolstered by external support, notably from North Korea.
The broader humanitarian toll of the war continues to mount. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, more than 51,400 Palestinians have been reported killed in Gaza alone, according to health officials, while tens of thousands of civilians have died or been displaced inside Ukraine.
