Russia's Putin visits Kursk region for the first time since Ukraine attacked it

Record ID: 1983165

  • Title: Russia's Putin visits Kursk region for the first time since Ukraine attacked it
  • Date: 12th March 2025
  • Summary: KURSK REGION, RUSSIA (MARCH 12, 2025) (RUSSIAN POOL) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, BEING GREETED BY HEAD OF THE RUSSIAN GENERAL STAFF VALERY GERASIMOV AND COMING INTO BUILDING (PART MUTE) PUTIN AND GERASIMOV GOING THROUGH CORRIDOR AND GREETING MAN IN MILITARY UNIFORM PUTIN AND GERASIMOV AT MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) HEAD OF THE RUSSIAN GENERAL
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Gerasimov Kursk Putin Russia Ukraine command post conflict
  • Location: KURSK REGION, RUSSIA
  • City: KURSK REGION, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA001837512032025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: President Vladimir Putin has visited the western Russian region of Kursk for the first time since Ukrainian forces seized some territory in the region.
    Appearing on Wednesday (March 12) on Russian state television dressed in a pixilated military uniform, Putin visited a control center in Kursk region used by Russian 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 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.
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