Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an appeal for Ukrainian troops stationed in the Russian region of Kursk to “surrender,” emphasizing that those who lay down their arms would be guaranteed not only their lives but also dignified treatment. His statement was broadcast on national television, reflecting the ongoing tensions in the region.
This public call for surrender came shortly after United States President Donald Trump claimed that “thousands” of Ukrainian soldiers were currently surrounded by Russian military forces in Kursk. Trump revealed that he had “strongly requested” that Putin spare the lives of these troops, highlighting the international concerns regarding the safety of personnel engaged in the conflict.
In response, Ukraine’s General Staff firmly denied claims that its forces were encircled by Russian troops, labeling such reports as “fabricated by the Russians for political manipulation.” They argued that these assertions were part of a strategy to exert pressure on Ukraine and its allies in the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, the situation on the ground remains dire, as a Russian missile strike targeted a residential area in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, injuring 11 individuals, including two children. Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has endured a series of attacks throughout Russia’s three-year full-scale invasion of Ukraine, underscoring the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the persistent threat faced by civilians in the region.
