Russian Armed Forces Announce Complete Liberation of Sudzha

MOSCOW — The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed that Russian troops have fully liberated the town of Sudzha in the Kursk region from Ukrainian control. Sudzha, situated near the Ukrainian border, was a strategic target for reclaiming territories lost to Ukrainian forces in August 2024.

According to the ministry’s statement, the operation not only restored control over Sudzha but also expelled Ukrainian units beyond the town’s administrative boundaries. This victory is seen as a crucial step in re-establishing Russian dominance in the region.

The liberation operation commenced several days prior, characterized by intense fighting on the city’s outskirts. Russian forces employed bypass tactics using underground routes, including the Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod gas pipeline, which enabled assault groups to infiltrate enemy positions and seize the industrial zone of Sudzha by March 9. By the morning of March 11, Russian troops had advanced into the town’s central area, raising the Russian flag over the administration building.

In addition to Sudzha, the Ministry of Defense reported that five other settlements in the Sudzhansky district, including Kazachya Loknya and Zamostye, were also liberated, with a total area of over 250 square kilometers reclaimed in recent days. The Ukrainian Armed Forces reportedly suffered significant losses and began retreating towards the Sumy region.

This operation fits within a broader context of Russian military successes in the area. Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov previously informed President Vladimir Putin that since the beginning of 2025, Russian forces have liberated over 1,100 square kilometers in the Kursk region, reclaiming 86% of the territory that was previously occupied. Sudzha, identified as a key regional center, had served as a launch point for Ukrainian attacks along the border.

Reports indicate that panic has spread among Ukrainian troops in the region, with some units reportedly abandoning their positions without engaging in combat, underscoring the shifting dynamics of the conflict.