Russia Recaptures Key Village in Kursk, Nears Full Control of Border Region

Russia announced on Saturday that it has retaken Oleshnya, the second-last village in its western Kursk region that had been under Ukrainian control. The move marks a significant step in Moscow's efforts to reclaim all territory in the area after Ukraine’s surprise cross-border offensive last year.

The Ukrainian military campaign, which began in August, caught Russian forces off guard and allowed Kyiv to seize more than 1,000 square kilometers of land along the frontier. The Ukrainian push had reached deep into Russian territory, with Sudja—a small but strategic town in Kursk—becoming a major forward base for Ukrainian troops. That town was recaptured by Russian forces in March.

With the latest advance, Russia now controls all but one village in the region—Gornal—still held by Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defense Ministry credited its Northern Group of Troops for the operation that led to the liberation of Oleshnya.

The recapture of these territories is not only symbolic but also strategic. Russian forces now find themselves back at the border, with growing momentum and a renewed ability to pressure Ukraine’s Sumy region, which lies just across from Kursk. Russian forces have already carried out smaller incursions in the Sumy area in recent weeks, raising concerns in Kyiv about a broader push.

The fighting continues to carry a heavy toll on civilians. On Saturday, a Ukrainian drone strike targeted a car in the Kursk region, reportedly killing a woman and injuring a man and a child, according to local officials.

With only one village remaining under Ukrainian control in Kursk, the region is on the verge of falling completely back under Russian authority, potentially opening a new phase in the conflict along this contested border.