Ukrainian occupation of Kursk Oblast | |
|---|---|
 Map showing the claimed extent of Ukrainian-held territory as of 28 April 2025 | |
| Occupied country | Russia |
| Occupying power | Ukraine |
| Beginning ofKursk offensive | 6 August 2024 |
| Military commandant's office established | 15 August 2024 |
| Largest settlement | Sudzha[1] (from 15 August 2024 to 12 March 2025) Guyevo (from 12 March to 7 April 2025) Gornal (from 7 to 28 April 2025) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Military administration |
| • Head of military commandant's office | Eduard Moskaliov |
On 6 August 2024, during theRusso-Ukrainian War, theArmed Forces of Ukraine launchedan offensive intoRussia'sKursk Oblast, occupying parts of the region. It was the first time sinceWorld War II that Russian territory was occupied by a foreign military. Ukrainian forces occupied several settlements, including the town ofSudzha, until March 2025.
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On 15 August 2024, Ukrainian military commanderOleksandr Syrskyi announced the establishment of a military administration in occupied parts of Kursk Oblast to be headed by major generalEduard Moskaliov, who would head the military commandant's office.[1][2] Syrskyi said that 82 settlements in the oblast were under Ukrainian control.[3] On 19 August, Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian forces were in control of over 92 settlements in Kursk Oblast and 1,250 square kilometers of Russian territory.[4]
On 3 September, Zelenskyy said in an interview that Ukraine was planning to "indefinitely" hold Kursk Oblast's seized territories, in an attempt to forcePutin to the negotiating table.[5] By November 2024, Ukraine had lost control of more than 40% of the territory it initially occupied in the region.[6]
Sudzha was the largest settlement in Kursk Oblast to have come under Ukrainian control. By 12 March 2025, it had been retaken by Russian forces amida sudden advance in which they retook much of the Ukrainian-held portion of the Kursk Oblast.[7][8][9]
Ukrainian officials stated that the purpose of the military administration was to provide humanitarian aid to civilians, maintain public service and to keep law and order in territories controlled by the Ukrainian armed forces.[10][3][11] Ukrainian authorities said in August that they planned to allow international humanitarian organizations to access the areas of Kursk Oblast that they controlled.[12]
Sudzha residents toldCNN thatUkrainian Ground Forces troops had provided food to locals who remained in the city.[13]
A curfew between the hours of 17:00 and 10:00 was introduced in Sudzha by the military commandant's office on 23 August 2024.[14]
| Name | Pop. | District | Held by | As of | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belaya | 2,598 | Belovsky | Russia | 6 Aug 2024 | |
| Bolshoye Soldatskoye | 2,681 | Bolshesoldatsky | Russia | 6 Aug 2024 | |
| Glushkovo | 4,785 | Glushkovsky | Russia | 6 Aug 2024 | |
| Korenevo | 6,119 | Korenevsky | Russia | 6 Aug 2024 | |
| Kurchatov | 42,706 | none | Russia | 6 Aug 2024 | |
| Kursk | 440,052 | none | Russia | 6 Aug 2024 | |
| Lgov | 21,453 | none | Russia | 6 Aug 2024 | |
| Malaya Loknya | 799 | Sudzhansky | Russia | 9 Mar 2025 | Mostly captured by Ukraine on 8 August 2024.[15]Contested by  Russia since 9 August 2024.[16][17]Likely captured by Ukraine on 4 September 2024.[18]Recaptured by Russia by 9 March 2025.[19] |
| Rylsk | 15,069 | Rylsky | Russia | 6 Aug 2024 | |
| Slobodka-Ivanovka | 58 | Rylsky | Contested[20] | 11 Aug 2024 | Captured by Ukraine since 11 August 2024.[20] |
| Snagost | 494 | Korenevsky | Russia | 14 Sep 2024 | Contested by Ukraine on 8 August 2024.[21] Likely fully recaptured by Russia on 9 August 2024.[16]Contested by Ukraine since around 11 August 2024.[22][23]Likely captured by Ukraine on 18 August 2024.[24]Contested by Russia between around 10–12 September 2024.[25]Claimed recaptured by Russian sources on 11 September 2024.Confirmed recaptured by Russia on 13 September 2024.[26] |
| Sudzha | 6,036 | Sudzhansky | Russia | 12 Mar 2025 | Contested by Ukraine between around 6–14 August 2024.[27] Claimed captured by Ukraine on 15 August 2024.[28][29]Contested by Russia by 11 March 2025.[30]Recaptured by Russia by 12 March 2025.[31][32][33] |
| Tyotkino | 3,852 | Glushkovsky | Contested[34] | 7 May 2025 | See also:2025 Tyotkino incursion Contested by Ukraine from 7 May 2025.[35]On Russia control by 15 June 2025.[34] |
Geolocated footage published on August 9 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced west of Novooleksandrivka and within Ivanivka (both east of Pokrovsk).
Ukraine's defence forces have captured Apanasovka, Snagost and Otruba and advanced into Olgovka in Russia's Kursk Oblast on 18 August.
Additional geolocated footage published on September 10 indicates that elements of the Russian 51st Airborne (VDV) Regiment (106th VDV Division) advanced north and northeast of Snagost (south of Korenevo) during a company-sized mechanized assault [...] Several Russian sources claimed that Russian forces fully seized Snagost, but ISW has not observed visual confirmation of these claims.
Geolocated footage published on September 13 shows Russian forces operating in central Snagost (south of Korenevo), indicating that Russian forces recently seized the entirety of the settlement [...] Geolocated footage published on September 12 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced into northern Petropavlivka (east of Kupyansk).
Ukraine struck back on Tuesday, and battles continued through the night into Wednesday as Ukrainian forces pushed to the northwest of the border town of Sudzha, 530 km (330 miles) southwest of Moscow, Russia's defence ministry said.
The enemy is also consolidating their positions and building up forces in the eastern part of Sudzha.
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