Zelensky confirms Ukrainian defense forces’ advance in Kursk region
Фото: Офіс Президента
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have launched a new offensive in Russia's Kursk region.
In an interview with Reuters, Zelensky stated that the operation began on Thursday, February 6, and that Ukrainian forces have advanced 2.5 kilometers.
He also noted that thousands of North Korean troops had resumed combat operations in the Kursk region after a several-week pause.
Earlier, the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Ukrainian forces had carried out multiple assaults in the region, advancing up to five kilometers.
What is known about the operation in the Kursk region
In August, the Ukrainian forces launched a counteroffensive in Russia's Kursk region, initially securing control over 1,100 km². However, by the end of the year, sustained enemy counterattacks reduced Ukrainian-held territory to approximately 460 km².
The offensive aimed to prevent a new Russian attack on Ukraine's Sumy and Kharkiv regions. It also forced Russian forces to divert significant resources to defend the Kursk region, weakening their positions on other frontlines.
According to Ukraine's Special Operations Forces, they had been operating inside Russian territory even before the offensive began, preparing the battlefield by destroying air defense systems and ammunition depots. This groundwork allowed Ukrainian troops to advance along pre-planned routes.
As of February 6, Ukrainian forces continue to hold "hundreds of square kilometers of the buffer zone" in Russia. The element of surprise enabled them to seize numerous settlements, including the town of Sudzha.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has called the Kursk operation one of Ukraine's most significant victories in the war, as it forced Russia to withdraw 60,000 troops. He also stated that this offensive resulted in the largest capture of Russian soldiers for future prisoner exchanges in a single combat operation.
