March 12, 2025 (EIRNS)—The second Battle of Kursk is nearing a conclusion, with Russia’s recovery of the last bastion, Sudzha, in a tunneling operation that will go down in the military annals. A satellite video of soldiers unfurling the Russian and unit flags in the main squire was circulated on the internet. The success of the operation was clearly symbolized on March 12 by the visit of President Vladimir Putin to Kursk dressed in military attire. While Russia has not officially responded to the supposed 30-day ceasefire proposed by the U.S., this appearance may be a significant message.
Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov reported to Commander-in-Chief President Putin that Russian servicemen had liberated more than 1,100 square kilometers of Kursk border territory. Putin then replied: “Please convey my gratitude to all personnel. I very much hope that all tasks will be completed and the territory of the Kursk region will be liberated from the enemy.”
Putin also emphasized that “Russia will treat Ukrainian soldiers captured in Kursk region as terrorists,” and that “foreign mercenaries are not covered by the Geneva Convention.”
Gerasimov emphasized that the servicemen of the Veterans and Akhmat detachments, as well as the fighters of the 11th Brigade and the 30th Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces, particularly distinguished themselves in the operation.
During a meeting of the command post of the Northern group, Putin called for the enemy to be routed in the Kursk region as soon as possible. “Indeed, our task in the near future, in the shortest possible time, is to finally defeat the enemy who has dug in on the territory of the Kursk region and is waging military operations here, and to completely liberate the territory of the Kursk region,” the President said.
