Ukraine has marked the six-month anniversary of its incursion into the Russian region of Kursk, which, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, “brought the war to the Russians’ doorstep” and could serve as leverage in potential future peace negotiations.
“Today marks the six-month anniversary of the operation in Kursk. Through our operational activities on Russian territory, we have brought the war to Russia’s home,” Zelensky said in a video address on the evening of February 6th.
Ukrainian forces launched the incursion on August 6th, taking control of parts of the Kursk region, including the city of Sudzha.
Zelensky mentioned the brigades of the Ukrainian armed forces involved in the operation in Kursk but did not refer to a counteroffensive that has been reported by unofficial Ukrainian military bloggers and the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said Ukrainian forces and armored vehicles carried out eight waves of attacks near the villages of Ulanok and Cherkasikaya Konopelka. The Russians repelled the counterattack attempts, and the settlements remain under Russian control, according to the Ministry.
Russia claimed that Ukrainian forces suffered significant losses, including more than 200 soldiers and dozens of vehicles. Battlefield reports cannot be independently verified.
The Ukrainian General Staff briefly referenced military activities in the Kursk region during its daily report on the fighting on February 6th, stating that only five skirmishes had occurred since the morning.
Ukraine has said that the progress it has made in Kursk could be used as leverage in potential peace talks with Russia.
“At some point, when the war moves toward a diplomatic solution, we will see how important this operation was,” Zelensky wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on February 5th.
Zelensky’s office said on Thursday that Ukraine is ready to open a humanitarian corridor to allow hundreds of Russian civilians living in areas of the Kursk region now under Ukrainian control to return to Russian-controlled territory, according to REL.
More than 1,500 civilians still live in the areas of the Kursk region. Some are frustrated with Russian authorities due to the loss of contact with family members believed to be stuck on the other side of the front line without means of communication.
“We are ready to open a humanitarian corridor in the Kursk region, deep into Russia, in response to an official request from the Russian Federation. Apparently, the Russians do not want such a humanitarian corridor because we have not received any request from them,” the statement from Zelensky’s office said, accusing Moscow of “interference” in the fate of its citizens.
