Russian Forces Use Gas Pipeline for Surprise Attack on Ukrainian Troops in Kursk

Ukraine counters the assault near Sudzha as Russian offensives threaten to encircle its forces in the region.

Russian special forces traversed 15 kilometers inside a disused gas pipeline to strike Ukrainian positions from the rear near Sudzha in the Kursk region.
Ukraine's military confirmed the attack, stating that Russian troops were detected and heavily targeted with artillery and rockets, inflicting significant losses on the attackers.
The Kursk front, seized by Ukraine in a bold cross-border offensive last August, is now under severe pressure from a Russian force of over 50,000 troops, including allied North Korean units.
Russian forces have reportedly captured multiple villages near Sudzha, while Ukrainian supply lines in the region have been severely disrupted by Russian strikes on key bridges and convoys.
Amid the escalating conflict, France announced €195 million in additional military aid for Ukraine, while President Trump suggested Ukraine's survival may be uncertain without U.S. support.