Russian Forces Retake Sudzha and 49 Settlements in Kursk, Reducing Ukrainian Control by 86% Before US Talks

Russian forces have taken control of the town of Sudzha in the Kursk region, marking a significant advance in the area. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the liberation of Sudzha, which had been under Ukrainian control since August 2024. The town served as a key logistical hub for Ukrainian forces supplying nearby units. The advance in Kursk comes ahead of scheduled talks between Russia and the US on Thursday. President Vladimir Putin's visit to the region underscores the strategic importance of recapturing the area, with the goal of completely dislodging Ukrainian troops from Russian territory. Russian forces have recaptured 49 settlements in the Kursk region, reducing the area under Ukrainian control by more than 86%. The operation involved over 800 Russian military personnel and included a tactical move through a gas pipeline to attack Ukrainian positions. Ukrainian forces initially seized 1,376 square kilometers in August 2024, but this has now shrunk to less than 200 square kilometers after seven months of occupation.