Russian authorities say they have uncovered more than 500 bodies in mass burial sites across the Kursk Region following the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces. The findings were announced by Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Tatyana Moskalkova, who said the graves were discovered in areas retaken after months of fighting along the border.
According to Moscow, Ukrainian units crossed into Kursk Region in August 2024 in what Kiev described at the time as a limited offensive aimed at increasing political leverage and pressuring Russian defenses. The operation initially advanced into Russian territory but soon stalled as Russian forces regrouped.
By early 2025, Russian troops had gradually pushed Ukrainian units back, with Moscow declaring the region fully under its control again in April. Since then, authorities say they have focused on assessing the humanitarian impact of the fighting, including the fate of civilians who remained in contested areas.
Moskalkova told reporters that 524 bodies have been recovered from what she described as mass burial sites since the start of the incursion. She did not specify whether the dead were civilians, combatants, or a combination of both, nor did she provide details on the circumstances of their deaths.
Russian officials also released updated figures on missing persons. Of 2,173 individuals initially listed as unaccounted for during the fighting, Moskalkova said 1,378 have since been located, 452 remain missing, and 343 have been confirmed dead.
Moscow has accused Ukrainian forces of committing war crimes during their presence in the region, citing testimonies alleging indiscriminate shelling, violence against civilians, and abuse of prisoners of war. These claims have not been independently verified and are denied by Kiev, which has repeatedly accused Russia of fabricating or exaggerating such allegations.
The Russian human rights commissioner further claimed that Ukrainian shelling of border regions has continued beyond the Kursk operation. She said that since the start of 2026, ten people had been killed and more than fifty civilians wounded in border areas, including children.
Moskalkova also alleged that twelve residents of Kursk Region are being held by Ukraine in violation of the Geneva Conventions, calling for their unconditional return. Russian officials say some civilians were returned during earlier prisoner exchanges.
Earlier this month, Russia’s Investigative Committee stated that 445 civilians were killed and 553 wounded during the period of Ukrainian control in the region. Together, the competing casualty figures highlight how fighting along the border has increasingly blurred the line between military operations and civilian life, reflecting a broader pattern in the war where short-lived incursions leave long-lasting humanitarian consequences.