Nearly 100 Russian troops infiltrate critical Ukrainian defense line through pipeline as Kursk encirclement tightens
Russian forces have infiltrated Ukrainian positions near Sudzha using a gas pipeline to move 100 troops undetected, exacerbating Ukraine's precarious situation as their forces face potential encirclement in Russia's Kursk Oblast.
On 8 March, around 100 Russian soldiers used a gas pipeline to advance toward the positions of Ukraine’s Defense Forces near Sudzha in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, says Ukrainian journalist Yurii Butusov.
The battle for control over the Kursk front has reached a critical juncture as Russian forces intensify their offensive operations, significantly limiting Ukraine’s strategic options, military analysts report. Russian troops have advanced further into the region, making key territorial gains while leveraging overwhelming drone warfare to disrupt Ukrainian logistics and supply chains.
He said the situation in the security zone in Kursk Oblast continues to escalate, requiring immediate decisions from the command.
“Today, enemy infantry was detected infiltrating the area near the city of Sudzha—Russian forces used a gas pipeline to covertly move an assault company, avoiding drone surveillance, and breached Ukrainian defensive positions. The pipeline is now under heightened monitoring, the enemy’s staging area has been identified, and efforts to eliminate the intruders are underway,” explained Butusov.
“The enemy used the gas pipeline and emerged near location N, with approximately 100 troops. It came as no surprise, as the operation was known in advance,” a source confirmed in a conversation with Ukrainska Pravda.
Russian forces had been preparing for this operation for several days, clearing the area with guided bombs before advancing.
The source added that destroying the pipeline was not an option due to logistical constraints. The operation may have involved underground pipes of the Urengoy–Pomary–Uzhhorod gas pipeline, which Russia used to supply gas to Europe via Ukraine until 1 January 2025. Each pipeline section has a diameter of 1.4 meters.
Earlier, military analysts said thousands of Ukrainian soldiers in Russia’s Kursk Oblast are nearly encircled by Russian forces.
The situation in Kursk Oblast has sharply deteriorated over the past three days, as maps show, after Russian forces regained territory as part of a planned counteroffensive that has nearly split Ukrainian troops in two, cutting off the main group from key supply lines.
Related:
- Maxar confirms US government blocked Ukrainian access to satellite data
- Trump claims Ukraine “more difficult” to negotiate with than Russia after he cut US aid
- Europe spends € 2 billion a month on Russian oil and LNG—more than its aid to Ukraine
- Top EU official: Any agreement concluded without Ukraine and EU is doomed to fail
You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.
We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society.
A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support.
