Russian special forces have reportedly used an abandoned gas pipeline to strike Ukrainian units in the Kursk region of Russia, Ukraine’s military confirmed.
According to Ukraine’s General Staff, Russian soldiers crawled through a 1.4-meter-wide, unused gas pipeline to launch an attack on Ukrainian troops near the town of Sudzha. This operation appears to be part of Russia’s attempt to reclaim territory in its border province, which had been captured by Ukraine in a surprise offensive last August.
A pro-Kremlin blogger on Telegram shared details of the attack, stating that Russian soldiers traveled about 15 kilometers inside the pipeline, which was previously used to transport gas to Europe. Some Russian forces reportedly spent several days inside the pipeline before ambushing Ukrainian units from behind, near Sudzha.
Sudzha, a town of approximately 5,000 people, is home to major gas transfer and measurement stations. It was once a key hub for Russian natural gas exports that passed through Ukrainian territory.
Another war blogger, known as “Two Majors,” reported intense fighting in Sudzha. He claimed Russian forces entered the town using the pipeline, and Russian Telegram channels shared images of special forces operatives wearing gas masks while navigating inside a large pipe.
Euronews could not independently verify these reports.
Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed on Saturday evening that Russian “sabotage and assault groups” attempted to use the pipeline to establish a foothold outside Sudzha. The General Staff stated that Ukrainian forces detected the operation in time and responded with rockets and artillery.
“Currently, Russian special forces are being identified, blocked, and destroyed. The enemy’s losses in Sudzha are significant,” the General Staff reported.
Ukrainian Attack on Russian Soil
In August, Ukraine launched a bold cross-border attack into Russia’s Kursk region, marking the largest assault on Russian territory since World War II. Within days, Ukrainian forces seized 1,000 square kilometers, including the strategic town of Sudzha, and captured hundreds of Russian soldiers.
Analysts suggest the offensive was aimed at gaining leverage in potential peace talks and forcing Russia to redirect troops from its ongoing campaign in eastern Ukraine.
Reports indicate that Moscow has deployed around 50,000 troops, including soldiers from North Korea, in an attempt to push back Ukrainian forces.
The Russian Ministry of Defence reported on Sunday that its troops had captured the village of Lebedevka, located 12 kilometers northwest of Sudzha. It also claimed to have inflicted losses on several Ukrainian units near the town. Kyiv did not immediately comment on these claims.
French Military Support for Ukraine
On Sunday, French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that France would use profits from frozen Russian assets to fund an additional 195 million euros in military aid to Ukraine. This package includes new 155 mm artillery shells and glide bombs for Mirage 2000 fighter jets previously provided to Ukraine.
The move sparked an angry response from Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia’s parliament. In a statement, Volodin warned that Paris would “answer for its actions” and would eventually have to return what he referred to as “stolen” funds.
Ukrainian Drone Strikes on Russian Oil Infrastructure
Meanwhile, Russian officials reported that Ukrainian drones targeted oil infrastructure in southern and central Russia overnight into early Sunday. One drone struck an oil depot in Cheboksary, a city located on the Volga River about 1,000 kilometers from the border. The local governor, Oleg Nikolaev, confirmed that no one was injured, but the depot would require repairs.
Other footage shared on Russian Telegram channels showed a fire near one of Russia’s largest oil refineries in Ryazan, a city in the south. Local residents reported hearing explosions near the refinery, but Governor Pavel Malkov claimed Ukrainian drones were shot down in the area, and no casualties or damage were reported.
Ukraine did not immediately comment on the incidents, and Euronews could not independently verify the reports.
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