Putin appoints Khinshtein to tackle Kursk crisis amidst conflict
Alexander Khinshtein has been appointed by Vladimir Putin as the new governor of the Kursk region. "After the liberation of the Kursk region, it is necessary to organize efforts to support the people," said Putin. "Everything must be done to make the residents of Kursk feel like 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 is the second change in governance for the Kursk region this year.
New governor of the Kursk region
During a meeting with Alexander Khinshtein, Vladimir Putin noted that his experience, particularly as an advisor to the director of the National Guard from 2016-2018, makes him a suitable candidate for crisis management in the challenging situation the Kursk region is facing.
The leader emphasized the region's need to address several priority issues, including rebuilding the communal and housing sectors, revitalizing the economy, and providing assistance to residents. "And most importantly, efforts must be made to help those in need, both now and in the near future," Putin instructed Khinshtein.
"Everything must be done to make the residents of Kursk feel part of the country," Khinshtein responded.
Khinshtein's appointment follows the resignation of Aleksei Smirnov, who assumed the role of governor on September 16. His predecessor, Roman Starovoit, transitioned to a federal government role in May, taking on the position of Minister of Transport. From May to September, Smirnov served as the 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 Ukrainian Armed Forces. Since August 6, Ukrainian troops have initiated an offensive in the region, and according to data from Kyiv, they occupied an area of 502 square miles and about 100 towns in the first week of fighting. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) estimates this area to be slightly smaller—about 448 square miles.
Since September, Russian forces have exerted efforts to reclaim the lost territories, but as per data at the end of November, about 309 square miles remained under the control of Ukrainian Armed Forces, as previously reported by the Ukrainian General Staff. According to Ukrainian intelligence, around 59,000 Russian soldiers are attempting to retake the region. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that creating a "buffer zone" in the Kursk region is a strategic goal of the operations, and Ukrainian troops are maintaining their positions.
Amid the military actions, dissatisfaction among Kursk region residents has been growing. In November, residents of the village of Olgovka appealed to Putin, voicing complaints about difficulties following evacuation and calling to "end the war."
Additionally, illegal protests occurred in the city of Sudzha and other affected areas, where residents expressed 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 ordered to maintain the captured territory until the end of January, when the 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 stated.
On November 11, Smirnov announced that the costs of rebuilding the Kursk region might exceed 700 billion rubles (approximately 6.9 billion USD). For comparison, the region's budget for 2024 was approved with expenditures of 88.7 billion rubles (878 million USD) and revenues of 83.2 billion (832 million USD), resulting in a deficit of 5.5 billion (5.4 million USD).
