The Ukrainian Armed Forces have launched a new offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, where they have held hundreds of square kilometers of territory for over six months.
According to Russian war correspondents speaking to The Moscow Times, Ukraine's latest attacks are concentrated southeast of Sudzha, advancing toward the settlements of Fanaseyevka and Ulanok.
The renewed offensive has also led to infrastructure damage, with a gas pipeline in the Rylsky district being hit during clashes. Alexander Khinshtein, the governor of Kursk, confirmed that a fire broke out and the pipeline had to be shut off, leaving two settlements without gas.
Meanwhile, Russian forces lost control of Cherkasskaya Konopelka, and Ukrainian troops reportedly captured Ulanok, according to sources like Rybar and Alex Parker Returns.
Reports describe the Ukrainian advance as “a bolt from the blue”, catching Russian troops off guard.
The attack began early in the morning with demining operations, allowing armored Ukrainian units to advance from Makhnovka.
Ukrainian forces flanked Cherkasskaya Konopelka and pushed toward Ulanok, according to “War Correspondents of the Russian Spring.”
Russian sources estimate that 500 Ukrainian troops and 50 armored vehicles were involved in the assault.
Ukraine’s Control Over Kursk Region
As of January 2024, Ukrainian forces controlled 442 square kilometers of Russian territory in the Kursk region — a drop from the 1,300 square kilometers they held at their peak in August 2023, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Russian forces have managed to recapture approximately 40 square kilometers in recent weeks.
According to Military Informant, Ukraine’s latest offensive is an attempt to improve its battlefield position in the region. The area south of Sudzha has seen intense Russian counterattacks, which have pushed Ukrainian forces back toward the town.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted at the strategic importance of the Kursk region in future negotiations with Russia.
"We have struck several very important military control points," Zelensky stated on Wednesday. "These are serious steps. They are important. I believe they will not be able to push us out of this territory in the near future."
The Ukrainian president also noted that Ukraine’s continued presence in Kursk is forcing Russia to keep 60,000 troops stationed in the region, preventing them from being redeployed elsewhere.
