Ukrainian forces in Kursk near collapse after Russian forces launch surprise assault through gas pipeline
March 9, 2025 11:19 am
The
Ukrainian front in the Russian province of
Kursk is at risk of collapsing after days of intensive
Russian assaults were aided by a Russian surprise attack through a gas pipeline.
Seven months after Ukrainian forces
seized roughly 386 square miles of Russian territory, hoping to use it as a bargaining chip for future negotiations, Ukraine is now at risk of losing its bargaining chip entirely. A week of intense Russian assaults all along the line was capped off with a daring assault through a 56-inch diameter gas pipeline by Russian forces, traveling nearly nine miles before emerging behind Ukrainian lines.
In this image from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Nov. 7, 2024, Russian Army soldiers fight with Ukrainian Armed forces in the Sudzhansky district of the Kursk region of Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
The soldiers used the Urengoy–Pomary–Uzhhorod pipeline, formerly one of Russia’s main natural gas pipelines into Europe that fell into disuse after Ukraine didn’t renew its contract in 2024.
According to Russian military bloggers, units from the Veterans Brigade, “Akhmat” group, 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment, 11th Airborne Brigade, and Vostok Brigade all participated in the operation.
Videos purporting to be from the operation showed the soldiers crawling through the small pipeline, with one video wishing Russian women a happy International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8.
translation of telegram post