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

Ukrainian forces face encirclement as Russian advances intensify, while international tensions rise over U.S. and European support.

Russian operatives reportedly traveled several miles through a gas pipeline to ambush Ukrainian forces near the town of Sudzha in the Kursk region.
Ukraine's military confirmed the use of the pipeline by Russian sabotage groups but stated they were detected and countered with artillery and rocket strikes.
Russian forces have captured multiple villages in Kursk, with open-source maps suggesting Ukrainian troops in the area are at risk of encirclement.
U.S. President Donald Trump has withheld military aid to Ukraine, prompting concerns among European leaders about the war's outcome and broader Western unity.
France announced an additional €195 million in military aid to Ukraine, funded by profits from frozen Russian assets, as drone strikes reportedly targeted Russian oil infrastructure.