Egypt Daily News – Russia announced that it has regained full control of the border region of Kursk with Ukraine, in a statement Kyiv described as “false” and “propaganda.” The announcement also included, for the first time, an acknowledgment of the deployment of North Korean soldiers in the battle.
On Saturday, April 26, 2025, President Vladimir Putin praised what he called the “complete failure” of the Ukrainian offensive on the border region, announcing the expulsion of Kyiv’s forces from the last village Moscow claimed they held.
Putin stated that driving Ukrainian forces out of Russian territory would pave the way for future successes by the Russian army inside Ukraine.
During a televised video conference with the president, Russian Army Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov reported: “Today, Gornal, the last town in the Kursk region, was liberated from Ukrainian units.”
In a video released by the Kremlin, Putin said: “The Kyiv regime’s adventure ended in utter failure.”
He added: “The complete defeat of the enemy in the Kursk border region sets the stage for further successful operations by our forces in other key areas of the front.”
In August of last year, Ukrainian forces had seized a large portion of territory in the Kursk region in a surprise incursion that embarrassed Putin.
Kyiv: Russian Claims Are “False”
In response, the Ukrainian military swiftly dismissed the Russian announcement as “false information,” insisting that battles are “ongoing” in the region.
A statement from the Ukrainian army described the enemy’s declarations of victory as “nothing more than propaganda maneuvers.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had hoped that holding Russian territory would give him leverage in any future negotiations to end the war.
Zelensky met with former U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral, while the U.S. administration continues to push for a ceasefire—something Kyiv fears may come with terms that compromise its interests.
Zelensky posted on social media: “It was a good meeting. We discussed matters in detail privately. I hope we’ll see results on all the issues we raised.” He reiterated his demand for an “unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire,” emphasizing that the meeting had “great symbolic significance” and could become “historic” if it leads to shared outcomes.
North Korean Forces: Russia’s First Admission
In a notable development, Russia for the first time admitted deploying North Korean soldiers in the battle to retake the Kursk region. During the meeting with Putin, Gerasimov praised the “bravery” and “valor” of North Korean fighters.
He said, “The soldiers and officers from the North Korean army who fought alongside Russian forces demonstrated great professionalism, resilience, courage, and heroism in repelling the Ukrainian assault.”
Ukrainian officials claimed that North Korea had sent an estimated 14,000 troops to assist Russia, including a recent reinforcement of 3,000 soldiers to quickly replace heavy losses, which were largely due to their lack of armored vehicles and experience in drone warfare.
North Korea and Russia have significantly strengthened military ties since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, culminating in a 2024 defense pact pledging immediate and mutual military assistance in case either country is attacked.
