**Ukraine Denies Russian Claims of Offensive**
The Ukrainian military has denied claims by President Vladimir Putin that Russian troops had launched an attack into Ukraine from Kursk Oblast. According to Dmytro Lykhovyi, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian General Staff, there were 12 combat engagements in Kursk Oblast on February 19, with three still ongoing.
**Russia Claims Attack, Ukraine Denies**
Putin claimed that Russian forces had crossed into Ukrainian territory from Kursk Oblast, but Lykhovyi dismissed this as part of a disinformation campaign. During one of the attacks, Russian troops attempted to advance towards Ukraine’s state border.
**Ukraine Had Previously Captured Territory in Russia**
In August 2024, Ukraine launched a surprise cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast, capturing about 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russian territory. While Ukrainian forces have lost some of this area, they recently advanced 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) in a new offensive.
**High Number of Russian Casualties**
Over six months of fighting in the region, nearly 40,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded, including over 16,000 fatalities and 909 taken as prisoners of war. Ukraine’s General Staff reported these numbers on February 19.
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