Putin appoints Khinshtein amid Kursk region tensions
Alexander Khinshtein has been appointed by Vladimir Putin as the new governor of the Kursk region. "Following the liberation of the Kursk region, it is necessary to organize efforts to assist the people," said the leader. "Everything must be done to ensure that the residents of Kursk feel part of the country," declared Khinshtein.
On Thursday, Vladimir Putin accepted the resignation of the governor of the Kursk region, Alexei Smirnov, and appointed State Duma deputy Alexander Khinshtein as the acting head of the region. This marks the second change in the governorship of the Kursk region this year.
New governor of the Kursk region
During a meeting with Alexander Khinshtein, Vladimir Putin highlighted that his experience, particularly as an advisor to the director of the National Guard from 2016 to 2018, makes him a suitable candidate for crisis management given the challenging situation in the Kursk region.
The leader emphasized the need to address several priority issues, including the reconstruction of communal and housing sectors, the economy, and providing assistance to residents. "Most importantly, efforts must be organized to help those in need, both now and in the near future," Putin stated to Khinshtein.
"Everything must be done to ensure that the residents of Kursk feel part of the country," Khinshtein responded.
Khinshtein's appointment follows the resignation of Aleksei Smirnov, who assumed the governorship on September 16. His predecessor, Roman Starovoit, transitioned to a federal position in May, becoming Minister of Transport. From May to September, Smirnov served as acting governor.
Ukrainians aim to maintain control of the Kursk region until Trump's inauguration
Currently, part of the Kursk region is under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Since August 6, Ukrainian troops have launched an offensive in this area, and according to data from Kyiv, in the first week of fighting, they occupied approximately 1,300 square kilometres and about 100 towns. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) estimates this area to be slightly smaller, about 1,160 square kilometres.
Since September, Russian forces have actively attempted to reclaim the lost territories, but according to data available at the end of November, about 800 square kilometres remained under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as previously reported by the Ukrainian General Staff. According to Ukrainian intelligence, about 59,000 Russian soldiers are trying to retake the region. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that creating a "buffer zone" in the Kursk region is a strategic objective of their operations, and Ukrainian troops continue to hold the positions they have gained.
Amid military actions, dissatisfaction among Kursk region residents has grown. In November, residents of the village of Olgovka appealed to Putin with complaints about hardships following evacuation and calls to "end the war."
Furthermore, illegal protests took place in the city of Sudzha and other affected areas, where residents voiced their dissatisfaction with high rental costs and the lack of certificates for new housing.
On December 3, BBC News, citing sources, reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had been instructed to maintain the captured territory until the end of January, when newly elected President Donald Trump will assume office in the United States. "The main task facing us is to hold the maximum territory until Trump’s inauguration and the start of negotiations. In order to exchange it for something later. No-one knows what," a soldier commented.
On November 11, Smirnov stated that the cost of rebuilding the Kursk region might exceed 700 billion rubles (approximately CAD 9.7 billion). For comparison, the region's 2024 budget was approved with expenditures at 88.7 billion rubles (CAD 1.2 billion) and revenues at 83.2 billion (CAD 1.1 billion), resulting in a deficit of 5.5 billion (CAD 7.5 million).
