Historian Oleksandr Alfyorov on Ukrainian speakers in Kursk region

Historian Oleksandr Alfyorov believes that while the Ukrainian-speaking population in Russia’s Kursk region may speak the language natively, they are unlikely to identify with a Ukrainian identity

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He shared this view on the Espreso TV.

"If someone speaks Ukrainian there, these are native speakers, but whether they carry a Ukrainian identity is a big question. Because Putin and the Soviet government did not adhere to any international resolutions they signed regarding indigenous peoples and the support of their cultural and historical rights to education. There are videos where they even speak literary Ukrainian, but this is essentially based on their own, let's say, primary, basic knowledge of their family language, which has continued to survive," says Oleksandr Alfyorov.

The historian noted that although some of these lands were once part of Ukraine and Ukrainians did live there, the population underwent intense Russification.

"During the twentieth century, after these territories were taken from the Ukrainian People's Republic, and later from Pavlo Skoropadskyi's Ukrainian State, Russia implemented widespread Russification. In the 1920s, nearly a quarter of the population in the Kursk region identified as Ukrainian. However, by the late 1980s and into the 2000s, this percentage had dropped to just 1.7-1.3%. The Russification was intense: no Ukrainian schools, classrooms, or libraries were established, and this territory became Russified," the historian added.

Ukraine’s cross-border incursion in Russia’s Kursk region

On August 6, the authorities of Russia's Kursk region stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces allegedly tried to break through the Russian border, but were allegedly pushed back. Later, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that "the Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group retreated to its territory.”

Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate refused to comment on the statements regarding the Kursk region. However, NV media, citing its own source in Ukrainian intelligence, wrote that the events in the Kursk region "definitely did not involve fighters of the Russian Volunteer Corps, who are fighting as part of Ukraine's Armed Forces.”

The Institute for the Study of War noted that the Russian Defense Ministry, acting governor of the Kursk region Alexei Smirnov, and some propagandists have different versions of the events in the Kursk region.

On August 7, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin convened the Russian military leadership to discuss the situation in the Kursk region, which he called a "large-scale provocation." At the time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called on the international community to "strongly condemn the Kyiv regime's criminal attacks on Russian territory."

On the same day, Russian media reported that workers at the Kursk nuclear power plant feared that the plant's management had not prepared for a possible attack by the Ukrainian armed forces.

Additionally, in the Kursk region, the Russians have started forming UAV operator units from civilians, providing them with up to 10 hours of training.

On August 7, a state of emergency was introduced in the Kursk region.

On August 8, the Institute for War Studies reported that Ukrainian troops confirmed advancing up to 10 km deep into the Kursk region as mechanized offensives continued.

On August 8, Russia’s National Guard announced that it had implemented additional security measures at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant to protect a "particularly important facility."

The Washington Post reported that Ukraine has taken control of the gas metering station in Sudzha, Kursk region. Previously, Russia claimed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had occupied several border villages and part of the town of Sudzha.

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated that Ukraine’s actions in the Kursk region in Russia "are consistent with U.S. policy" and do not cause any escalation.

On Friday, August 9, it was reported that terrorists from PMC Wagner intend to fight for Russia in the Kursk region.

On August 13, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine controls 74 settlements in Russia's Kursk region.

2025, Saturday

12 July