Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for Ukrainian troops engaged in the conflict in the Kursk region to surrender, an appeal made in the wake of a statement from former U.S. President Donald Trump urging Putin to spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. Both leaders have asserted that Russian forces have surrounded Ukrainian troops in the area, a claim that has been categorically denied by Kyiv officials. Nonetheless, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged that his forces are facing intensified pressure on the battlefield.
In a televised address, Putin expressed sympathy for Trump’s call for restraint, stating that surrendering Ukrainian soldiers would be accorded “life and dignified treatment.” He further indicated that for Trump’s proposal to be realized, an official order from Ukraine’s military leadership would be necessary to encourage their forces to lay down their arms.
Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to emphasize the precarious position of Ukrainian troops, claiming that “thousands” were encircled by Russian military forces. He described the potential fallout of the situation as a “horrible massacre,” drawing parallels to the darkest chapters of World War II.
Despite claims of territorial gains by Russia, including the recapture of significant areas in the Kursk region, Ukraine has firmly rejected such assertions. The Ukrainian General Staff maintained that the situation was under control, stating, “There is no threat of our units being encircled.” However, Zelensky conceded that the situation in Kursk is “very difficult,” revealing that the ongoing offensive from Ukraine might have compelled Russia to redistribute its forces, alleviating some pressure on critical fronts like that of Pokrovsk.
Zelensky provided insight into the dynamics at play, indicating that the Ukrainian offensive’s success in Kursk has led to a reduction in Russian troop presence in other critical locations, thus helping stabilize control over Pokrovsk. He noted, “I think the situation in the Pokrovsk sector is now stable, and it will be very difficult to find an opportunity to occupy Pokrovsk again.”
Complicating the conflict further, a recent Ukrainian bombardment of Sudzha—a town that Russian officials claimed to have recaptured—resulted in civilian casualties, including one death and two injuries, along with damage to the local history museum, according to a statement from a Russian inquiry committee. The local governor, Alexander Khinshtein, reported that the victims were museum staff, underscoring the tragic human toll of the ongoing conflict in the region.
