**Ukraine Launches New Offensive in Russia‘s Kursk Oblast**
On February 6, Ukrainian armed forces reportedly launched a new offensive in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. According to Russian military bloggers, Ukrainian forces attacked southeast of the city of Sudzha, advancing towards the settlements of Fanaseevka and Ulanok.
**Russian Defense Ministry Claims Ukraine Deployed Mechanized Battalions**
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Ukraine deployed up to two mechanized battalions for the offensive. As a result of alleged fighting, a gas pipeline was damaged in the Rylskyi district, Kursk Governor Alexander Khinshtein said.
**Ukrainian Officials Remain Silent on the Offensive**
Ukrainian officials have not commented on the reported offensive. However, President Volodymyr Zelensky‘s previous remarks suggest that Ukraine aims to use its foothold in Kursk Oblast as leverage in potential peace talks.
**Background: Six Months of Fighting in Kursk Oblast**
Since August 2024, Ukrainian forces have maintained positions in Kursk Oblast following a cross-border incursion. While Kyiv has lost roughly half of the initially captured area, combat operations continue. Over six months of fighting in the region, Russian losses have reached nearly 40,000 personnel, including over 16,000 killed.
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