Putin visits Kursk, calls Ukrainians terrorists
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently visited the Kursk region, marking his first appearance there since Ukrainian forces launched an offensive in August 2024.
Appearing on Russian state television dressed in a pixelated military uniform, Putin visited a control center in the Kursk region used by Russian troops.
During his visit, Putin called for captured Ukrainian soldiers to be treated as terrorists, a designation that would deny them protections under the Geneva Conventions. He urged Russian forces to expedite the complete liberation of the region and received briefings from military officials on the status of Ukrainian troops.
"Indeed, in the shortest possible time is to finally defeat the enemy entrenched in the Kursk region and still conducting defensive actions here," Putin said, addressing Russia's top military brass.
Putin heard a report from Valery Gerasimov, head of the Russian General Staff, who told him that Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region were now surrounded.
"Its systematic destruction is underway," Gerasimov said.
Putin said Russian forces should completely liberate the region from the Ukrainian troops as soon as possible, the news agencies reported.
Putin said Russia should treat Ukrainian soldiers captured as prisoners of war in the Kursk Region as terrorists.
"People who are in the Kursk region, who commit crimes against civilians here, who oppose our armed forces, law enforcement agencies and special services, ... are the people we should certainly treat as terrorists," Putin said, adding that Russia does not intend to extend the Geneva Conventions to foreigners fighting on Ukraine's side.
The Kursk region has been a focal point since Ukrainian forces advance into Russian territory in August 2024, capturing several settlements and prompting a state of emergency. In response, Russia has been working to reclaim the occupied areas, reportedly regaining control over 86% of the territory.
