The invention concerns an electrosurgical instrument comprising two articulated limbs, which can be actuated in the manner of a cutting or a clamping tool. The instrument further comprises opposing electrode parts with coagulating surfaces at the distal ends of the limbs for grasping a vessel or tissue and for conducting a coagulating current through the vessel or tissue in order to cause it to coagulate, as well as current-supplying devices for supplying the coagulating current to the electrode parts from a HF generator. In addition, the electrode parts each have at least one clamping region, such that clamped tissue is pretensioned between the electrode parts in order that a cutting procedure can be carried out on the pretensioned tissue by means of a cutting instrument.