Ukraine offers humanitarian corridor for Kursk region Russians

Ukraine is ready to open a humanitarian corridor for hundreds of Russian civilians trapped in territory seized by Kyiv, if Moscow requests one.

A centre for displaced people in the Kursk region of Russia. Picture: AFP

Ukraine says it is ready to open a humanitarian corridor to let hundreds of Russian civilians living in border areas seized by its army ­return to Russian-controlled territory, if Moscow requests one.

More than 1500 civilians are still living in areas of Russia’s western Kursk region that Ukraine’s army seized in a shock cross-border offensive in August.

Rare anger at the Russian authorities has since been growing among those who have lost contact with family members ­believed to be trapped without communication on the other side of the frontline.

“We are ready to open a ­humanitarian corridor from Kursk region to the depths of Russia in response to an official request of the Russian Federation,” the office of President ­Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday (Friday AEDT).

The presidency, accusing Moscow of “indifference” to the fate of its own citizens, added: “Apparently, the Russians do not want such a humanitarian corridor, because we have not ­received a corresponding request.”

The offer to help facilitate their return comes as Russia said Ukrainian forces had attempted a fresh offensive in Kursk, with Mr Zelensky praising his fighters who have controlled swathes of Russian territory for the past six months. Russia has been clawing back ground, but Ukraine still occupies dozens of border settlements around the regional hub of Sudzha.

The Kremlin had said earlier on Thursday that it was doing “everything” it could, but refused to comment on the idea of a ­humanitarian corridor.

The remains of a missile at Kursk airport in Russia. Picture: Russian Defense Ministry/AP

Kyiv’s attack on the Kursk ­region reshaped the nearly three-year war and was the first time a foreign army had taken control of Russian territory since World War II.

In a meeting with the region’s governor on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the situation was “very difficult”, but did not ­address the growing anger over the fate of missing people.

Mr Zelensky has hailed the operation as an important bargaining chip in future peace talks and said the capture of Russian soldiers there had helped Kyiv secure the return of its own prisoners of war.

Russia’s defence ministry said its troops had “foiled” a new “counter-offensive” launched by Ukraine about 10km from the border, to the southeast of ­Sudzha. There has been no comment on the fresh offensive from officials in Kyiv.

Ukraine’s military said earlier that it had taken 909 Russian soldiers captive during the Kursk operation, replenishing what Kyiv calls the “exchange fund” of PoWs it can swap for captured Ukrainians.

Thursday marked six months since the start of the offensive. Ukraine has facilitated the return of a handful of Russians, including children, who lived in villages and towns it captured, though there has been no mechanism for their mass return.

About six million Ukrainians, including 1.5 million children, live in areas of the country under Russia’s control, officials in Kyiv said last year.

Millions more were forced to flee their homes in the east and south when Russia invaded in February 2022.

AFP