Kursk Oblast

Kursk Oblast is a region in Russia's Chernozemye region, bordering Ukraine to the west, Bryansk Oblast to the northwest, Oryol Oblast to the north, Lipetsk Oblast to the northeast, Voronezh Oblast to the east, and Belgorod Oblast to the south.

Although Kursk Oblast is most famously associated with the Battle of Kursk—the biggest tank battle in history—the heart of the battle actually took place to the south of Kursk, in the north of Belgorod Oblast. Kursk Oblast is a center for iron ore mining in Russia.

• Kursk — the capital of the region is a major iron ore production center and houses several baroque cathedrals
• Rylsk — this "town-museum" has more than its fair share of fine 19th century Russian architecture, including two impressive cathedrals; there are also two important and interesting country manors just outside the town
• Zheleznogorsk

• Mikhailovsky iron open cut - a very impressive gigantic open-air site, where iron ore has been mined, near Zheleznogorsk.
• Tsentralno-Chernozemny Biosphere Reserve

Without any knowledge of Russian it's hard to get around in this region.