# Ukrainian occupation of Kursk Oblast

On 6 August 2024, during the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched an offensive into Russia's Kursk Oblast, occupying parts of the region. It was the first time since World War II that Russian territory was occupied by a foreign military. Ukrainian forces occupied several settlements, including the town of Sudzha, until March 2025.

## History

On 15 August 2024, Ukrainian military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi announced the establishment of a military administration in occupied parts of Kursk Oblast to be headed by major general Eduard Moskaliov, who would head the military commandant's office. Syrskyi said that 82 settlements in the oblast were under Ukrainian control. On 19 August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian forces were in control of over 92 settlements in Kursk Oblast and 1,250 square kilometers of Russian territory.
On 3 September, Zelenskyy said in an interview that Ukraine was planning to "indefinitely" hold Kursk Oblast's seized territories, in an attempt to force Putin to the negotiating table. By November 2024, Ukraine had lost control of more than 40% of the territory it initially occupied in the region.
Sudzha was the largest settlement in Kursk Oblast to have come under Ukrainian control. By 12 March 2025, it had been retaken by Russian forces amid a sudden advance in which they retook much of the Ukrainian-held portion of the Kursk Oblast.

## Activities

Ukrainian officials stated that the purpose of the military administration was to provide humanitarian aid to civilians, maintain public service and to keep law and order in territories controlled by the Ukrainian armed forces. Ukrainian authorities said in August that they planned to allow international humanitarian organizations to access the areas of Kursk Oblast that they controlled.
Sudzha residents told CNN that Ukrainian soldiers had provided food to locals who remained in the city.
A curfew between the hours of 17:00 and 10:00 was introduced in Sudzha by the military commandant's office on 23 August 2024.

## Control of settlements

| Name | Pop. | District | Held by | As of | More information |
| Belaya | 2,598 | Belovsky | Russia | 6 Aug 2024 | |
| Bolshoye Soldatskoye | 2,681 | Bolshesoldatsky | Russia | 6 Aug 2024 | |
| Glushkovo | 4,785 | Glushkovsky | Russia | 6 Aug 2024 | |
| Korenevo | 6,119 | Korenevsky | Russia | 6 Aug 2024 | |
| Kurchatov | 42,706 | none | Russia | 6 Aug 2024 | |
| Kursk | 440,052 | none | Russia | 6 Aug 2024 | |
| Lgov | 21,453 | none | Russia | 6 Aug 2024 | |
| Malaya Loknya | 799 | Sudzhansky | Russia | 9 Mar 2025 | Captured by Ukraine on 8 August 2024. Contested by Russia since 9 August 2024. Likely captured by Ukraine on 4 September 2024. Captured by Russia by 9 March 2025. |
| Rylsk | 15,069 | Rylsky | Russia | 6 Aug 2024 | |
| Snagost | 494 | Korenevsky | Russia | 14 Sep 2024 | Contested by Ukraine on 8 August 2024. Likely fully recaptured by Russia on 9 August 2024. Contested by Ukraine since around 11 August 2024. Likely captured by Ukraine on 18 August 2024. Contested by Russia between around 10–12 September 2024. Claimed captured by Russian sources on 11 September 2024. Confirmed captured by Russia on 13 September 2024. |
| Sudzha | 6,036 | Sudzhansky | Russia | 12 Mar 2025 | Contested by Ukraine between around 6–14 August 2024. Claimed captured by Ukraine on 15 August 2024. Contested by Russia by 11 March 2025. Captured by Russia by 12 March 2025. |
| Tyotkino | 3,852 | Glushkovsky | Russia | 6 Aug 2024 | |