Ukrainian forces made a surprise incursion into Kursk in August 2024, before being pushed out by Russian troops nine months later.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kursk Oblast, the Kremlin said on May 21, marking his first known visit since Moscow declared it had retaken the Russian border region from Ukrainian forces. Russia claimed on April 26 that it had completed its operation to "liberate" Kursk Oblast.

Moscow said last month it had retaken full control of the region — a claim denied by Ukraine, which first took parts of Kursk in August. Putin last visited the border region in March, donning military fatigues for the only time since ordering the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and visiting a command post.