Ukrainian occupation of Kursk Oblast

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Ukrainian occupation of Kursk Oblast
August 2024 Kursk Oblast incursion.svg
Map showing the maximum claimed extent of Ukrainian occupation
Occupied countryFlag of Russia.svg  Russia
Occupying powerFlag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine
Ukrainian-installed occupation regime
  • Military commandant's office for the Kursk region [a] (15 August 2024–present)
    (4 months and 6 days)
2024 Kursk offensive 6 August 2024
Administrative centre Sudzha [1]
Largest settlement Sudzha
Government
  Military Commandant Eduard Moskaliov

During the Russo-Ukrainian War and Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine occupied parts of Russia's Kursk Oblast. 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. The occupation was an outcome of the Ukrainian incursion of the Kursk Oblast that began on 6 August 2024.

Contents

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 hold the title of military commandant. [1] [2] He said that 82 settlements in the oblast were under Ukrainian control. [3] Ukraine said it was "not interested" in permanently annexing Russian territory. [4] On 19 August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian forces were in control over 92 settlements in Kursk Oblast and 1,250 square kilometers of Russian territory. [5] On 3 September, Zelenskyy said in an interview that Ukraine is planning to "indefinitely" hold Kursk Oblast's seized territories, in an attempt to force Putin to the negotiating table. [6] By November 2024, Ukraine had lost control of more than 40% of the territory it initially occupied in the region. [7]

Activities

Ukraine has stated that the purpose of the military administration is to provide humanitarian aid to civilians, maintain public service and to keep law and order in territories controlled by the Ukrainian armed forces. [8] [9] [10] Ukrainian authorities plan to allow international humanitarian organizations to access the areas of Kursk Oblast that they control. [11]

Ukraine’s national postal service, Ukrposhta, is considering opening a branch in Sudzha if the safety of its staff can be guaranteed. [12] [13]

On 16 August, journalists from Italy's RAI network and Ukraine's Hromadske network visited the Sudzha area and interviewed local residents. [14] [15] [16] The following day, the Ukrainian military allowed CNN to travel, with supervision, into Sudzha. CNN reported that Ukraine was giving food to Russian citizens who remained in the city. [17] Some Russian civilians in the territory under Ukrainian occupation have complained that they have been abandoned by the Russian government. [18]

A curfew between the hours of 17:00 and 10:00 was introduced in the Sudzha district by the military commandant's office on 23 August 2024. [19]

On 3 September, The Guardian reported that soldiers returning from Sudzha claimed to have taken "trophies", such as Russian flags and posters seized from official buildings and T-shirts featuring Vladimir Putin taken from stalls at Sudzha market, and jokingly told residents without power or mobile reception that Ukraine had captured Kursk city and that Moscow was next. [20]

Office holders

No.NamePortraitPositionTerm of office
1 Eduard Moskaliov Eduard Moskaliov 2018 (cropped).jpg Military Commandant15 August 2024Present

Control of settlements

NamePop. District Held byAs ofMore information
Belaya 2,598 Belovsky Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 6 Aug 2024
Bolshoye Soldatskoye 2,681 Bolshesoldatsky Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 6 Aug 2024
Glushkovo 4,785 Glushkovsky Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 6 Aug 2024
Korenevo 6,119 Korenevsky Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 6 Aug 2024
Kurchatov 42,706noneFlag of Russia.svg  Russia 6 Aug 2024
Kursk 440,052noneFlag of Russia.svg  Russia 6 Aug 2024
Lgov 21,453noneFlag of Russia.svg  Russia 6 Aug 2024
Malaya Loknya 799 Sudzhansky Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 4 Sep 2024Captured by Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine on 8 August 2024. [21]
Contested by Flag of Russia.svg  Russia since 9 August 2024. [22] [23]
Likely captured by Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine on 4 September 2024. [24]
Rylsk 15,069 Rylsky Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 6 Aug 2024
Snagost 494 Korenevsky Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 14 Sep 2024Contested by Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine on 8 August 2024. [25]
Likely fully recaptured by Flag of Russia.svg  Russia on 9 August 2024. [22]
Contested by Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine since around 11 August 2024. [26] [27]
Likely captured by Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine on 18 August 2024. [28]
Contested by Flag of Russia.svg  Russia between around 10–12 September 2024. [29]
Claimed captured by Flag of Russia.svg  Russian sources on 11 September 2024.
Confirmed captured by Flag of Russia.svg  Russia on 13 September 2024. [30]
Sudzha 6,036 Sudzhansky Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 15 Aug 2024Contested by Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine between around 6–14 August 2024. [31]
Claimed captured by Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine on 15 August 2024. [32] [33]
Tyotkino 3,852 Glushkovsky Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 6 Aug 2024

See also

Notes

  1. Ukrainian: Військова комендатура Курської області, Russian: Военная комендатура Курской области

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References

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