The Russian army says it has regained full control of the country’s western Kursk region. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that all attempts by Ukraine in the Kursk region have completely failed. Russia’s top military commander Valery Gerasimov said that the last village remaining in the possession of Ukrainian soldiers has also been regained now. This happened after Ukraine’s sudden attack eight months ago. Gerasimov also claimed that more than 76,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or injured in the Kursk region. However, this claim could not be confirmed. Ukraine has rejected this claim. Ukraine says that its soldiers are still operating in the Russian border area, and has described Moscow’s claims as propaganda. Ukrainian army had to face Russian attacks in Kursk in the past months. In the past few months, the Ukrainian army has faced heavy pressure in the Kursk region. The Ukrainian army has had to retreat due to 70 thousand Russian soldiers and heavy drone attacks here. Russia is running a major campaign to regain this area. The US-based think-tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in a report on April 25 – Russian forces have recently made progress near the international border in Kursk Oblast (region) to drive out Ukrainian troops from their last remaining areas. ISW also reported that fighting continued in Russia’s northwestern Belgorod region on April 25. Russia admitted – North Korean soldiers supported in the war During a video conference with Putin on Saturday, Russian commander Valery Gerasimov said that Gornal, the last village in the Kursk region, has been liberated from the Ukrainian army. Gerasimov also praised the courage of North Korean soldiers during the Russian counter-attack. This is the first time that Russia has acknowledged the involvement of North Korean soldiers in the army. In response, Putin told Gerasimov that Ukraine’s efforts have completely failed. Putin claimed that this would give Russia a way to advance on other fronts. The Russian army says that its troops have now taken control of several settlements of north-eastern Sumy in Ukraine, which is located near Kursk. Ukraine said – The war continues in Kursk. Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Ukrainian army, reacting to the telegram, said that the battlefield remains difficult. But he also stressed that his troops still maintain their positions in Kursk and continue the offensive in the Belgorod region. Ukraine started this incursion last August to create a buffer zone between the two countries, preventing Russia from deploying troops on the eastern front of Ukraine. Trump said – Putin is fooling me, he does not want to stop the war. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky sat face to face in the Vatican on Saturday and discussed the ceasefire. After this, Trump accused Russian President Vladimir Putin that he ‘does not want to stop the war.’ Meanwhile, the White House described the meeting between Trump and Zelensky as ‘very useful’ before the funeral of Pope Francis. Zelensky also said on X that the meeting was good and could become historic if the right results are achieved. This was the first meeting of the two leaders after the debate between Zelensky and Trump in February at the White House. In the meeting held at the White House, Trump and US Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of not being grateful for US help in the war against Russia.
