Kursk Region Officials Wounded in ‘Remotely Detonated’ Mine Blast, Governor Says

July 3, 2026 Rylsk District Head Vladimir Kovalchuk. @Hinshtein / Telegram Four officials in southwestern Russia’s Kursk region were wounded in a mine explosion early Friday, Governor Alexander Khinshtein said. “This morning in the center of Rylsk, a vehicle carrying Rylsk District administration staff hit a mine,” Khinshtein wrote in a post on Telegram, referring to a town 35 kilometers (21.5 miles) from the border with northeastern Ukraine’s Sumy region. “The explosive device was detonated remotely,” he added without elaborating. Two of those wounded and hospitalized were identified as Rylsk District head Vladimir Kovalchuk and Sergei Besedin, the director of a municipal maintenance department. Both men were in the vehicle when the blast occurred, and Besedin required surgery. The other two officials, whom Khinshtein identified only as the district’s head of culture and an emergency specialist, had been on the steps of the Ryslk administration building and suffered shrapnel wounds from the blast wave. Khinshtein said they were hospitalized as well. The governor said security forces cordoned off the area and bomb disposal squads were at the scene. Ukrainian forces launched a surprise incursion into the Kursk region in August 2024 and took control of several districts. They were forced to retreat in early 2025 after Russian forces, backed by North Korean troops, launched a counteroffensive. The Rylsky District did not come under Ukrainian occupation during the incursion. Kursk region authorities said in early 2025 that it could take over a year to clear mines from the recaptured areas of the Kursk region. Read more about: Kursk Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more 4 Workers Killed in Ukrainian Attack on Russia’s Kursk Region, Governor Says Regional authorities said a feed mill building was destroyed in the attack, while other property was damaged. 1 Min read At Least 25 Russian Conscripts Killed Since Ukraine’s Kursk Incursion – Vyorstka Many of the conscripts were killed within weeks of the August 2024 incursion, but their names only surfaced in media reports obituaries, and social media... 1 Min read Feature ‘We've Been Abandoned’: Desperate Relatives Seek Loved Ones in Kyiv-Occupied Kursk as Peace Talks Loom Hundreds of Kursk residents are searching for their loved ones who remain in Ukraine-held territory. But they are getting few answers from officials. 5 Min read Russia Claims to Have Retaken 64% of Kursk Territory Lost After Ukraine’s Offensive “Currently the initiative in the Kursk region is fully on our side. Russian forces are advancing in all areas,” said Sergei Rudskoi, first deputy head... 2 Min read