Russian special forces used an innovative tactic to strike Ukrainian units from behind in the Kursk region, traversing kilometers inside a gas pipeline, according to Ukraine’s military and Russian war bloggers. This move is part of Moscow’s effort to reclaim its border province, which Ukraine seized in a bold August offensive—the largest attack on Russian soil since World War II. Within days, Ukraine captured 1,000 square kilometers, including the strategic town of Sudzha, and took hundreds of Russian prisoners. Kyiv aimed to secure leverage for peace talks and divert Russian forces from eastern Ukraine.

Months later, Ukraine’s troops in Kursk face exhaustion from relentless assaults by over 50,000 Russian soldiers, including North Korean reinforcements. Open-source maps suggest tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers risk encirclement. Pro-Kremlin blogger Yuri Podolyaka reported that Russian operatives walked 15 kilometers inside the pipeline—once used to export gas to Europe—spending days inside before attacking near Sudzha. This town, home to key gas infrastructure, had 5,000 residents before Russia’s 2022 invasion. Another blogger, Two Majors, confirmed intense fighting for Sudzha, with Russian forces entering via the pipeline. Telegram posts showed operatives in gas masks navigating the pipe.

Ukraine’s General Staff reported Saturday that Russian “sabotage and assault groups” used the pipeline to gain ground outside Sudzha. Detected early, Ukraine responded with rockets and artillery. “Russian special forces are being blocked and destroyed, with high enemy losses in Sudzha,” the Staff stated. The operation highlights Russia’s determination to reverse Ukraine’s gains, while Kyiv struggles to hold its position amid a grueling counteroffensive.