In August 2024, Ukraine launched the first foreign occupation of Russian soil since 1945.
In short: When Ukrainian forces crossed into the Kursk Oblast, they established a military administration to manage the territory. The move, intended to force negotiations, sparked complex questions about international law, civilian safety, and the reality of life under occupation, as both sides traded accusations of misconduct in an active combat zone.
The offensive began on 6 August 2024, marking a significant shift in the Russo-Ukrainian War. By mid-August, Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that 82 settlements were under control, a figure President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later updated to over 92 settlements and 1,250 square kilometers. Ukraine established a military administration headed by major general Eduard Moskaliov to oversee humanitarian aid and public order. However, by November 2024, Ukraine had lost more than 40% of the territory it initially seized, and by 12 March 2025, Russian forces had retaken the town of Sudzha, the largest settlement captured during the operation.
The occupation was defined by conflicting accounts of civilian treatment. While some residents reported that Ukrainian troops provided food and water, others alleged that soldiers fired on fleeing civilians or used residential areas to shield military equipment. Investigations by The New York Times highlighted incidents of civilian deaths, though the active combat status made independent verification difficult. Ukrainian officials consistently rejected allegations of misconduct as propaganda, emphasizing that their administration sought to contrast its conduct with Russia's actions in occupied Ukrainian territories. Simultaneously, reports emerged of looting by Russian troops within their own borders, leading to internal condemnation from local officials.
Legally, the situation remains a subject of debate. International law scholar Chris O'Meara argued that the occupation was a proportionate act of self-defense, intended to prevent further Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians. Conversely, the human cost was significant, with 112,000 people evacuated from the region. The status of detained civilians also became a point of contention; Russia reported that several dozen locals were held as prisoners of war, with some eventually returned through prisoner-exchange processes in 2025 and 2026. Ultimately, the operation served as a strategic attempt to bring Russia to the negotiating table, though the shifting front lines and the humanitarian toll underscored the volatility of the conflict.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Ukrainian occupation of Kursk Oblast
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