Russians seized Sudzha in Kursk region - ISW
Illustrative photo: Intense battles continue in the Kursk region, with the Russian army attempting to push back the Ukrainian Armed Forces (Getty Images).
Russian forces have seized Sudzha in the Kursk region and are engaged in combat with the Ukrainian Armed Forces in border villages of the Sumy region. The Russian army may attempt to create a buffer zone near the Russian-Ukrainian border, according to the report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
On March 12, geolocation footage was released indicating that Russian forces recently captured Sudzha and advanced to the southern area of the village of Zaoleshenske (northwest of Sudzha). A source linked to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian troops began retreating from Sudzha.
Russian military bloggers attribute the capture of the city to the 11th Airborne Brigade, the 22nd Motorized Rifle Regiment (72nd Motorized Rifle Division, 44th Army Corps of the Leningrad Military District), and the 2nd Special Forces Brigade (Main Directorate of Military Intelligence of the Russian General Staff). According to the bloggers, Russian troops are conducting "cleansing" operations in the settlement.
Geolocation footage released on March 11 shows that Russian forces recently advanced west of the village of Basivka (west of Sudzha, across the international border in the Sumy region).
Bloggers claim that Russian forces advanced in the Sverdlivko area (northwest of Sudzha), west of Kozacha Loknia (north of Sudzha), within Zaoleshenka, southeast of Honcharivka (west of Sudzha), west of Kurylivka, north of Huyevo (both south of Sudzha), as well as southwest of Zhuravka (west of Sudzha in the Sumy region) and west of Oleksandriya (south of Sudzha in the Sumy region).
Russian mil bloggers stated that fighting continues in the areas of Zaoleshenka, Honcharivka, and Huyevo, as well as across the international border in the Sumy region near Zhuravka, Novenky, and Basivka (all west of Sudzha). One of the Russian bloggers called for the creation of a buffer zone - likely in the Sumy region - after Russian forces pushed Ukrainian troops out of the Kursk region.
On March 12, Russian bloggers claimed that Ukrainian Defense Forces launched strikes using HIMARS rocket systems against Russian troops in the Kursk region. ISW could not verify this information.
Putin's visit to Kursk region
The ISW also noted that on March 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a military command post in the Kursk region and listened to a report from Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov. This was the first visit after Ukraine took control of part of the Kursk region in August 2024.
During the visit, Putin acknowledged that Russian troops had not yet fully driven Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region and stated that they must capture the entire Kursk region "in the shortest possible time."
"Demonstrating Putin's desire to use Russia's seizure of Sudzha to project military success and strength against the backdrop of the US-Ukrainian temporary ceasefire proposal," the report reads.
The ISW also highlighted a particular fact: during his visit to the headquarters, Putin was dressed in military uniform, while during his front-line visits in April 2023, he wore a suit. According to analysts, the Russian president is likely trying to position himself as an engaged military leader and include himself among the Russian military-political leaders responsible for the recent advances of Russian forces in the Kursk region.
"Putin is also likely attempting to portray himself as a strong and effective military commander ahead of US-Russian meetings, including a meeting with US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff on March 13 during which the delegations will likely discuss the US-Ukrainian temporary ceasefire proposal," the ISW report concluded.
Ukrainian Forces' Operation in Kursk region
At the beginning of August 2024, the Ukrainian Armed Forces crossed the state border in the Sumy region and began taking control of settlements along the border in the Kursk region.
The operation's goal was to weaken the combat capabilities of the Russian army and force the enemy to redirect resources to defend its own territory from units conducting offensive operations in the Donetsk region and the border areas of Sumy and Kharkiv regions.
Over the past seven months, the Russians have gradually pushed Ukrainian forces out of these settlements. By early March, the fighting in the region significantly intensified. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported significant Russian advances in the Kursk region.
According to the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Russia is trying to push Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region and move combat operations into the territories of the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. Meanwhile, in these clashes, Russian units have suffered significant losses.
Some analysts have noted that a possible reason for the Russian army's success could be the suspension of intelligence data sharing between the Trump administration and Ukraine, which hindered Ukraine's ability to effectively strike with HIMARS rocket systems.
However, on March 11, US and Ukrainian officials confirmed that the United States had resumed intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
