Ukrainian forces surge in Kursk: Gas pipeline hit during new offensive
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have launched a new offensive in the Kursk region, where they have maintained control over hundreds of square miles of Russian territory for more than half a year. Kyiv initiated an attack southeast of the city of Sudzha, resulting in a disruption to a gas pipeline in the Rylsk area.
According to Russian war correspondents, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked southeast of Sudzha, targeting the localities of Fanaseyevka and Ulanok.
Ukrainians launched an attack
A gas pipeline was damaged as a result of combat operations in the Rylsk area, reported the governor of the Kursk region, Aleksandr Hintshtain.
According to him, the pipeline caught fire, and it had to be shut down.
"Russian forces lost control over Cherkasskaya Konopelka," wrote the channel "Rybar," associated with the Russian Ministry of Defense.
"Like a bolt from the blue"
Alex Parker Returns reports that the Ukrainian Armed Forces also managed to take Ulanok. The Ukrainian offensive began "like a bolt from the blue," they wrote.
The operation commenced with demining areas at dawn, followed by "armored groups of the Ukrainian Armed Forces starting offensive actions from the direction of Makhnivka, flanking Cherkasskaya Konopelka and advancing on Ulanok," wrote the "Military correspondents of Russian spring." The channel "Veteran's Notes" assesses the attacking forces at 500 soldiers and 50 armored units.
At the end of January, the Armed Forces of Ukraine controlled 171 square miles of the Kursk region—almost three times less than at the peak of the operation that started in August, during which they managed to occupy 502 square miles in two weeks—according to experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
According to ISW, in January, the Russian army managed to "recapture" about 15 more square miles.
The Ukrainian counteroffensive is "an attempt to improve their position," wrote a "War correspondent." "It is precisely south of Sudzha where the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have advanced significantly in recent months, effectively pushing the Armed Forces of Ukraine back to Sudzha itself, threatening the entire opposing group in the Kursk region," it reads.
The Kursk region as a bargaining chip
On Wednesday, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv plans to use the Kursk region as a factor in potential negotiations with Russia.
"We have struck several very critical military command points. And these are very serious steps. They are important. I believe they will not be able to push us off this territory in the near future, and this, like a magnet, is keeping 60,000 of their troops in this direction," he added.
