• Russian troops have initiated a large-scale military operation to reclaim significant areas of the western Kursk region from Ukrainian forces. The offensive marks an escalation in the conflict, with intense clashes reported in the region.
• Location: Administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, about 450 km south of Moscow, on the upper Seym River.
• Geography: Part of the Black Earth region, known for highly fertile soil.

History:

• First mentioned in 1032, one of Russia’s oldest cities.
• Destroyed by Tatars in 1240, rebuilt in 1586 as a military outpost.
• World War II & Battle of Kursk: Site of the largest tank battle (July–August 1943), leading to German defeat.