Russia Begins Demining Kursk; Ukraine Denies Encirclement Claims

Russia’s Defence Ministry announced on Saturday that its engineering units have begun demining operations in reclaimed border areas of the Kursk region, following weeks of intense fighting.

The ministry stated that the effort aims to restore critical infrastructure and revive economic activity in territories recaptured from Ukraine after Kyiv’s surprise August 2024 cross-border offensive. Russian troops have regained significant ground, reversing much of Ukraine’s initial capture of 1,300 square kilometers. The ministry also reported finding munitions banned under the Geneva Convention during the operations.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected claims of encirclement in Kursk, asserting on Telegram that Ukrainian forces remain active and untrapped. “Our operation in Kursk continues,” he said, crediting the deployment with diverting substantial Russian forces from other fronts. Zelensky warned of Russia massing troops near Ukraine’s eastern border and plotting an assault on the northeastern Sumy region. Ukraine’s General Staff echoed his denial, dismissing reports of encircled troops as Russian propaganda.

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered a lifeline to Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk, promising humane treatment under international law if they surrender. His remarks followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “productive discussions” with Putin, hinting at a potential end to the “horrible, bloody war.”

Writing on Truth Social, Trump alleged thousands of Ukrainian troops were surrounded and urged Putin to spare them—a plea contingent on Kyiv ordering a surrender, per Putin.

The Ukrainian incursion, launched to disrupt Russian operations, has faced a fierce counteroffensive, shrinking Kyiv’s foothold. As Russia intensifies its push, the situation for Ukrainian forces grows precarious, though Kyiv insists it retains strategic leverage in the region.