Russian Troops Retake Monastery on Kursk Border

Russian forces recaptured the St. Nicholas Monastery in Russia’s Kursk region on Wednesday. The monastery, located in the village of Gornal, sits roughly half a kilometer from the Ukrainian border.

The site was one of the first targets of Ukrainian forces when they launched an offensive into the Kursk region on August 6th of last year. Last month, Russian forces launched a surprise operation by using an out-of-service gas pipeline to bypass Ukrainian defenses, allowing them to swiftly recapture the town of Sudzha and go on the offensive in the region.

The monastery and surrounding area have been fiercely contested in recent weeks, as Ukrainian troops struggle to hold onto remaining territory in the region.

The well-fortified monastery, which includes underground tunnels, served as a stronghold for Ukrainian forces. Russian reluctance to launch a full-scale assault on a religious structure further prolonged the standoff, making it a natural location for Ukrainian troops to make a last stand.

With the area around the church nearly cleared, only the village of Oleshnya to the west remains under partial Ukrainian control in the Kursk region. However, reports suggest fighting is already ongoing inside the village.

The position of the remaining Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region is growing increasingly precarious. Russian troops continue to advance into the Sumy region, threatening to sever the main highway linking Sumy to Kursk—Ukraine’s main logistical route in the area.

Meanwhile, Ukraine may not be receiving additional aid in the near future. On Tuesday, U.S. media reported that President Donald Trump is unwilling to sell Patriot missile air defense systems to Ukraine, even if the country is willing to pay for them with its own funds.