Russia has achieved another significant military victory by recapturing Sudzha, the largest town in its Kursk region that had been occupied by Ukrainian forces. Days after Russia claimed control of the town, Ukraine’s General Staff officially confirmed its withdrawal, marking another setback for Kyiv in the ongoing conflict.
Fierce Battles Lead to Devastation in Sudzha
The battle for Sudzha was one of the most intense in the three-year-long war, with heavy bombardments and relentless airstrikes. Before the conflict, the town had a population of around 5,000, but reports now indicate that much of it has been left in ruins.
Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, revealed that Russian forces had launched relentless airstrikes on Kursk, severely damaging the area. Over the past weeks, Russian troops have steadily reclaimed territory that Ukraine had seized following its unexpected cross-border offensive in August last year.
Russia Begins Reconstruction in Kursk
With Sudzha and surrounding areas now under Russian control, Moscow has shifted its focus to reconstruction. Alexander Khinshtein, the acting governor of the Kursk region, announced that efforts to restore the area are already underway.
“The most urgent priority is to clear landmines and restore the population levels to what they were before Ukrainian forces occupied the region,” Khinshtein said on Saturday.
The Russian Defense Ministry also confirmed that engineering units have started demining operations in the recaptured border areas. These efforts aim to restore essential infrastructure and resume economic activities after weeks of intense fighting.
Russian Drone Strikes Target Northern Ukraine
As Russia solidifies its hold on Kursk, Ukraine continues to face heavy bombardments. The northern city of Chernihiv was hit by multiple Russian drone attacks overnight, according to Dmytro Bryzhynskyi, head of the Chernihiv City Military Administration.
Drones struck high-rise residential buildings, triggering fires that were later extinguished by emergency crews. One attack hit a five-story building, while private homes were also damaged.
Meanwhile, a Russian ballistic missile reportedly crashed near Semenivka, a border town in Chernihiv, causing a partial power outage, Ukrainian officials said.
What’s Next in the Conflict?
With Russia reclaiming key areas and Ukraine struggling to hold onto captured territory, the war’s momentum seems to be shifting in Moscow’s favor. As both sides continue to escalate their attacks, the question remains: will Ukraine be able to regain lost ground, or is Russia tightening its grip on the battlefield?
