Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the western Kursk region for the first time since Russian forces ejected Ukrainian troops from the area last month.

The Kremlin said that during the visit on Tuesday (May 20) Putin met volunteer organizations in the region and visited the Kursk-II nuclear power plant.

State television showed Putin meeting volunteers and local officials in the region including acting governor Alexander Khinshtein. Putin was accompanied by Sergei Kiriyenko, Kremlin first deputy chief of staff.

Russia said in late April that it had ejected Ukrainian troops from Kursk region, ending the biggest incursion into Russian territory since World War Two.

Just over two years after Russia's 2022 invasion, Ukraine on Aug. 6 launched its boldest attack, smashing through the Russian border into the Kursk region, supported by swarms of drones and heavy Western weaponry.

At its height, Ukrainian forces claimed nearly 1,400 square kilometers of Kursk.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

KURCHATOV, KURSK REGION, RUSSIA (MAY 20, 2025) (RUSSIAN POOL – Access all)

1.VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN MEETING WITH KURSK REGION LOCAL OFFICIALS

2.(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"The situation in frontier zone (of Kursk region) remains difficult even after the liberation from enemy. (OVER WIDE OF PUTIN SPEAKING) We also talked about it with (acting Kursk region governor) Alexander Yevseyevich (Khinshtein), but you know it better than anybody else. In general, all the Kursk region faced in some ways the problems which are typical for frontier zone. (IN SHOT) Everybody, including those who lives in Kursk city, faced these problems and hit now a rough patch."

3.MEETING IN PROGRESS, PUTIN LISTENING

4.(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"We also know that the enemy transformed the left cathedrales (of Russian Orthodox Church) almost into fortresses. And these buildings were seriously damaged during the liberation. I would like to ask Alexander Yevseyevich (Khinshtein) to analyze it carefully and to create a special program (of restoration)."

5.MEETING IN PROGRESS

6.(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"Once we agreed that 65 000 (roubles) that the residents now receive will be paid until the liberation of region from enemy. Now there are no enemy troops in settlements in frontier zone but at this moment it is impossible (for residents) to return there until the full mine clearing. So, we will continue to pay this money (65 000 roubles)."

7.MEETING IN PROGRESS

KURSK, KURSK REGION, RUSSIA (MAY 20, 2025) (RUSSIAN POOL – Access all)

8.VARIOUS OF PUTIN MEETING WITH ACTING KURSK REGION GOVERNOR ALEXANDER KHINSHTEIN

9.(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"I agree that we can do it (to pay money for residents) (OVER WIDE OF PUTIN SPEAKING) until people will be able to return to their own houses. And the grouping of forces of mine clearing should be increased (IN SHOT) to let people return to their firesides as quick as possible."

10.KHINSHTEIN SPEAKING

11.(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"We should do it and I agree with your proposition (to pay money for those which houses weren’t damaged but became unlivable during the Ukrainian incursion). (CHANGE OF SHOTS) Because people are not guilty that their homes became non-habitable. And we should support them."

KURSK REGION, RUSSIA (MAY 20, 2025) (RUSSIAN POOL – Access all)

12.VARIOUS OF PUTIN MEETING WITH LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES OF VOLUNTEER ORGANISATIONS