Kremlin sets new deadline for troops to retake Kursk region
Photo: Putin rules Ukrainian armed forces to be pushed out of Kursk region by February 1 (Getty Images)
The Kremlin has given its military new deadlines, ordering the recapture of full control over the Kursk region by February 1, 2025. The original deadline of October 15 has already passed without success, according to RBC-Ukraine's article titled "Russia advancing in Kursk and Donbas: Is Ukrainian front at risk of collapsing?"
According to a source within Ukraine's Defense Forces, the new plans also include establishing a buffer zone across the border on Ukrainian territory by February 25.
The report notes that according to Moscow's earlier plans, enemy forces were to push out the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) by mid-October. While they failed to meet this deadline, they have achieved some tactical successes in the past few weeks.
Currently, Moscow has gathered more than 40,000 troops for the operation to regain control over the Kursk region, according to RBC-Ukraine. The situation is highly dynamic, with settlements changing hands within a single day.
While Ukraine's defense has not collapsed, the chances of expanding its foothold in Kursk appear relatively low, the report adds.
Sources told RBC-Ukraine that in August, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his military to push Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region by October 1 but also stressed the importance of not withdrawing troops from critical areas in the Donbas.
In September, it was reported that Russia had concentrated 37,000 soldiers in the Kursk region, and the Russian authorities had set a new goal to oust Ukrainian forces by October 15.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces launched their operation in the Kursk region on August 6. As reported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, by August 27, Ukrainian forces had taken control of 1,300 square kilometers and 100 settlements. However, Russian forces managed to reclaim some of the territory afterward.
