In a dramatic turn of events, Russian special forces have reportedly crept miles through a major gas pipeline near the town of Sudzha in a surprise attempt to ambush Ukrainian forces.
Media reports say the operation is part of a broader offensive aimed at reclaiming territory in the Kursk region, which Ukrainian soldiers seized last year.
Since August, Ukraine has held around 1,300 square kilometres of Russian land in Kursk, hoping to use it as leverage for future negotiations. However, recent Russian advances have brought Ukrainian forces closer to being surrounded, with Moscow’s military retaking key villages, including Lebedevka and Novenke.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has paused military aid, fuelling concerns that Ukraine may be losing support in its fight against Russian forces.
Yuri Podolyaka, a Ukrainian-born, pro-Russian military blogger, said Russian special forces had walked about 15 km along the inside of a major gas pipeline and some had spent several days in the pipe before surprising Ukrainian forces from the rear near Sudzha.
Sudzha is the home of major gas transfer and measuring stations on a pipeline that used to carry Russian natural gas into the Ukrainian gas transmission system for onward transportation to Europe.
Pro-Russian war blogger Two Majors said a major battle was under way for Sudzha and that Russian forces had surprised Ukrainian soldiers by entering the town via a major gas pipeline.