Putin Visits Kursk Amid North Korean Troop Reports

Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the Kursk region after Moscow claimed to expel Ukrainian forces following a rare Ukrainian incursion, which marked the first foreign occupation of Russian territory since World War II. During the unannounced trip, Putin inspected the under-construction Kursk Nuclear Power Plant-2 and met with local volunteers and officials to emphasize the region's strategic importance. The visit occurred amid ongoing fighting, with Ukraine claiming continued operations in parts of Kursk and reports of recent Russian missile strikes killing Ukrainian soldiers in northeastern Ukraine. Reports suggest up to 12,000 North Korean troops helped Russia reclaim Kursk, though Kyiv denies this. Putin's visit appears intended to reassure both domestic and international audiences of Russia's stability, even as Western nations increase calls for a ceasefire that Putin has rejected. The situation remains tense, with active military operations along the border and Russia seeking to strengthen its hold over recaptured areas.