Russian special forces reportedly used an abandoned gas pipeline to infiltrate and attack Ukrainian troops from the rear in the Kursk region, according to Ukraine’s military.
The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that Russian forces navigated a 1.4-meter-wide, disused gas pipeline to launch an assault on Ukrainian positions in Sudzha, a town within Russia’s Kursk region. This strategic maneuver comes as Moscow intensifies efforts to reclaim territory lost to Kyiv in a surprise offensive last August.
A pro-Kremlin blogger on Telegram claimed that Russian troops traveled approximately 15 kilometers inside the pipeline, which had previously been used to transport gas to Europe. Some Russian soldiers allegedly remained inside the pipeline for several days before launching their assault from behind Ukrainian lines near Sudzha, according to Russian military commentator Yuri Podolyaka.
Fierce Fighting in Sudzha
Sudzha, a town of about 5,000 residents, serves as a key hub for gas transfer and measurement stations along the pipeline. In the past, it played a crucial role in Russian natural gas exports through Ukrainian territory.
Another military blogger, operating under the alias “Two Majors,” reported intense combat in Sudzha, claiming that Russian forces managed to enter the town via the gas pipeline. Photos circulating on Russian Telegram channels purportedly depict special forces operatives wearing gas masks and maneuvering through what appears to be a large industrial pipe.
Euronews has not independently verified these claims.
On Saturday evening, Ukraine’s General Staff acknowledged that Russian “sabotage and assault groups” had utilized the pipeline in an attempt to establish a foothold outside Sudzha. In a Telegram statement, the military noted that Russian troops were “detected in a timely manner,” prompting Ukrainian forces to retaliate with rocket and artillery strikes.
“At present, Russian special forces are being detected, blocked, and destroyed. The enemy’s losses in Sudzha are very high,” the General Staff stated.
Largest Attack on Russian Territory Since WWII
Ukraine launched a bold cross-border incursion into Kursk last August, marking the most significant attack on Russian soil since World War II. Within days, Ukrainian forces had captured 1,000 square kilometers of territory, including the strategic town of Sudzha, and had taken hundreds of Russian soldiers prisoner.
Military analysts suggest that Kyiv’s offensive aimed to create leverage for future peace negotiations while compelling Russia to divert troops from its ongoing campaign in eastern Ukraine.
In response, Moscow has reportedly deployed approximately 50,000 troops, including North Korean soldiers, to push back Ukrainian advances.
On Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed its forces had captured the village of Lebedevka, located 12 kilometers northwest of Sudzha, and had inflicted significant losses on Ukrainian units in the surrounding areas. However, the ministry did not specify the exact timing of these clashes. Kyiv has not yet commented on these claims.
France Announces Additional Military Aid for Ukraine
Amid escalating hostilities, France announced an additional €195 million ($210 million) military aid package for Ukraine, financed through profits from frozen Russian assets.
French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed the new aid package in an interview with La Tribune Dimanche, stating that it would include 155mm artillery shells and glide bombs compatible with the Mirage 2000 fighter jets previously supplied to Ukraine.
The move provoked a strong response from Russian officials. Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the Russian parliament, accused France of misappropriating Russian funds, warning that Paris “will answer for its actions” and would eventually be forced to return what he described as “stolen” assets.
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Target Russian Oil Infrastructure
Meanwhile, Russian authorities and military bloggers reported that Ukrainian drones targeted key oil infrastructure in southern and central Russia overnight into Sunday.
According to Oleg Nikolaev, governor of Chuvashia, a drone attack struck an oil depot in Cheboksary, a city on the Volga River about 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. He stated that no injuries were reported but confirmed that the facility required reconstruction.
Unverified footage circulating on Russian Telegram channels appeared to show a fire at or near one of Russia’s largest oil refineries in Ryazan. The Telegram news channel Shot cited local residents who reported hearing multiple explosions near the refinery during the night.
Pavel Malkov, governor of Ryazan, claimed that Ukrainian drones were intercepted before reaching their targets, asserting that there were no casualties or significant damage. Ukraine has not officially commented on the reported strikes.
As the conflict intensifies, both sides continue to engage in high-stakes military maneuvers, further complicating the path toward any potential resolution.
Source:https://www.euronews.com/
