Ukraine has launched a renewed military offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, with troops advancing several miles into Russian territory, according to Russian officials and military bloggers. The scale and exact objectives of this operation remain unclear, and Ukrainian officials have yet to provide an official statement. However, combat footage and battlefield reports suggest Kyiv’s forces have penetrated up to five kilometers behind Russian lines in a new push.
BREAKING:
The Ukrainian Army has launched a new large offensive in the Kursk region of Russia.
After deploying Western tanks, IFVs and recovery vehicles, the Ukrainians broke through Russian defensive lines and advanced 5 km.
They are about to take Ulanok from the Russians. pic.twitter.com/gdoFdFIWlI
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 6, 2025
The attack coincided with the six-month anniversary of Ukraine’s first incursion into Kursk. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) acknowledged the assault, stating that multiple waves of Ukrainian mechanized battalions launched attacks near Ulanok and Cherkasskaya Konopelka, two villages southeast of Sudzha.
Russian military bloggers reported that Ukraine deployed 30 to 50 armored vehicles in the assault, supported by tank recovery vehicles and mine-clearing equipment. The presence of such specialized equipment suggests Ukraine may be attempting a larger breakthrough, rather than a limited raid. According to reports on Russian Telegram channels, Ukrainian forces successfully advanced through Cherkasskaya Konopelka, with Russian air defense units targeting advancing vehicles near Fanaseyevka.
Unconfirmed russian reports from the Kursk region: Ukraine entered Cherkasskaya Konopelka and Fanaseyevka
According to the Z-channels, Ukraine is advancing, including in the direction of Ulanok. pic.twitter.com/rqPFMrbSIH
— Local world news (@wogoa1) February 7, 2025
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a U.S.-based think tank, confirmed that Ukrainian forces launched a battalion-sized mechanized assault, marking one of the most significant cross-border offensives into Russian territory since last year. The ISW noted that, while Ukraine’s strategy remains unclear, the current offensive may serve multiple objectives, including drawing Russian troops away from other critical fronts and creating a buffer zone to protect Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkiv regions.
Special Report | Ukraine’s Kursk Incursion: Six Month Assessment ⬇️
A small group of Ukrainian troops in Kursk Oblast have complicated the Russian military’s efforts to advance in Ukraine over the last six months. Roughly a division’s worth of Ukrainian troops have undermined… pic.twitter.com/Y8NW64fdBf
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) February 6, 2025
Despite acknowledging the attack, the Russian Ministry of Defense insists that Moscow’s forces successfully repelled the offensive. The MoD reported that Ukrainian forces launched eight waves of attacks, supported by tanks and armored fighting vehicles, but claimed that Russian troops had inflicted heavy losses on advancing Ukrainian units.
While Ukrainian military officials have not publicly commented on the operation, President Volodymyr Zelenskyindirectly referenced the attack in his recent address. He stated that Ukraine’s ongoing operations have “brought the war home to Russia”, forcing Moscow to experience the conflict firsthand. Zelensky emphasized that cross-border operations serve both a tactical and psychological purpose, demonstrating that Ukraine is capable of striking inside Russian territory.
Today marks six months of the Kursk operation. With our active operations on Russian territory, we have brought the war home to Russia. That is where they must feel what war truly means. And they do.
I thank every Ukrainian warrior and every unit involved in operations in the… pic.twitter.com/YGT7nt97mh
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 6, 2025
