Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the town of Kuchetov in the Kursk region and was partially occupied by Ukrainian troops last year for several months, the Kremlin said Wednesday.
This is the first trip to the region by Russian leaders since the Ukrainian invasion last year.
Putin met with regional governor Alexander Khinshtein, volunteer organization and local officials Tuesday night. The Kremlin said he promised Moscow continued to support reconstruction efforts, especially housing damaged in the conflict.
The president also visited a department at the Kursk nuclear power plant currently under construction.
Last August, Ukrainian troops launched a surprise offensive against the Kursk region and held a small piece of territory within a few months. The Russian military declared the region “completely liberated” in late April.
The Sumi area of the fire
Sumy's Ukrainian region sits on the border of Kursk and has been bombed by Russia for months.
Governor Oleh Hryhorov said Wednesday that industrial facilities and power lines were damaged by overnight drone attacks and part of the regional capital had no power.
In addition, Ukrainian authorities said six soldiers were killed on Sumy's military training ground and 10 others were injured in a Russian missile strike.
The Ukrainian National Guard announced casualties on Facebook, adding that an investigation has begun.
Russia's defense ministry released drone videos Tuesday night claiming a missile strike in Ukrainian units near Shostka town. According to Moscow, the attack was conducted using Iskander ballistic missiles and killed up to 70 Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed ammunition warehouses and military equipment.
Ukrainian parliament members indirectly confirmed the strike shortly after posting the video, although they did not provide the casualties.
Ukraine has been fighting the full-scale invasion of Russia for more than three years.
