Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Thursday that Ukrainian forces have taken complete control of Sudzha, marking the largest Russian town captured by Ukraine since their cross-border incursion began over a week ago.
Sudzha, with a prewar population of around 5,000, serves as the administrative centre of Russia’s Kursk region. It is the most significant urban area to fall to Ukrainian troops since the incursion started on August 6.
The Ukrainian government is reportedly establishing a command office in Sudzha, signalling a potential long-term presence in the Kursk region or possibly sending a message to Moscow. While Zelenskyy did not detail the office’s functions, he mentioned earlier that Ukraine would distribute humanitarian aid to residents in Sudzha.
In a related development, satellite images captured by Planet Labs PBC on Wednesday revealed damage to an air base in Borisoglebsk following a Ukrainian drone strike. The photos show that the attack caused damage to two hangars, possibly damaging two fighter aircraft. Experts suggest that the strike may serve as a diversion to thwart Russian airstrikes on Ukraine and could impede Moscow’s progress in the Donbas region.
In response to escalating tensions, Russia has declared a federal-level state of emergency for the Belgorod region, adjacent to Kursk, following a regional-level emergency declared the day before. Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov, addressing military officials and Belgorod’s regional governor, outlined a plan to enhance command and control systems and improve collaboration with law enforcement agencies. Measures include designating responsible officials and allocating additional forces and funds to address the situation.
In the wake of the escalating conflict, Kursk’s regional governor has ordered the evacuation of several towns and villages in the border area. Residents have seen boarding buses in Rylsk and Lgovsk while military personnel and local authorities are working to evacuate the city of Glushkovo, which has a population of about 5,000 and is approximately 40 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.
