Russian troops have taken control of the city of Sudzha in the Kursk Oblast and are fighting with the Ukrainian Defense Forces in border villages of the Sumy Region. According to analysts, the russian army may seek to create a buffer zone near the border.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has reported this.
According to ISW, geolocation footage released on March 12 shows that russian troops recently captured Sudzha and advanced to the southern district of the village of Zaoleshenka, which is located northwest of the city.
Citing a source connected to the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, analysts note that Ukrainian forces have begun withdrawing from Sudzha.
Russian military bloggers claim that the city was captured by units of the 11th Airborne (VDV) Brigade, 22nd Motorized Rifle Regiment (72nd Motorized Rifle Division, 44th Army Corps [AC], Leningrad Military District [LMD]), and 2nd Spetsnaz Brigade (russian Main Military Intelligence Directorate [GRU]) of the General Staff of the russian Armed Forces.
According to them, russian troops are conducting clearing operations in Sudzha.
Russian army advances in border areas
Geolocation footage from March 11 shows that russian troops have advanced west of the village of Basivka, which is located in the Sumy Region.
In addition, russian military bloggers claim that the russian army has expanded the zone of control in the areas of:
– Sverdlikovo (northwest of Sudzha),
– Kazachya Loknya (north of Sudzha),
– Zaoleshenka,
– Goncharovka (southeast),
– Kurilovka (west of Sudzha),
– Guyevo (south of Sudzha),
– Zhuravka (west in the Sumy Region),
– Oleksandriia (south in the Sumy Region).
Fighting continues in the areas of Zaoleshenka, Goncharovka and Guyevo, as well as on the other side of the border in the Sumy Region near Zhuravka, Novenke and Basivka.
One of the russian military bloggers called for the creation of a buffer zone after the russian army pushes the Armed Forces of Ukraine out of the Kursk Oblast.
Ukraine's reaction
On March 12, russian bloggers reported that Ukrainian troops had launched HIMARS strikes on russian army positions in the Kursk Oblast. ISW notes that it is currently unable to verify this information.
Putin's visit to the Kursk Oblast
On March 12, vladimir putin visited a military command post in the Kursk Oblast. During the visit, he heard a report from the Chief of the General Staff of the russian federation, Valery Gerasimov.
This is putin's first visit to the region since Ukraine partially took control of the territory of the Kursk Oblast in August 2024.
According to ISW, during this trip, putin acknowledged that russian troops had not yet completely driven Ukrainian forces from the region, and stated that they must "seize all of Kursk Oblast in the shortest possible time."
Analysts believe that this visit demonstrates putin's desire to use the capture of Sudzha as evidence of military superiority ahead of possible talks between Ukraine and the United States on a temporary ceasefire.
"Putin is also 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 says.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, russian troops entered the eastern part of the city of Sudzha in the Kursk Oblast the day before and are entrenching there.
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