Russian special forces walked inside a gas pipeline to strike Ukrainian units from the rear in the Kursk region.
Russian operatives traveled approximately 15 kilometers (9 miles) inside the pipeline, which Moscow had until recently used to send gas to Europe. Some Russian troops spent several days inside before striking Ukrainian units from the rear near Sudzha.
Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed Saturday evening that Russian “sabotage and assault groups” used the pipeline in an attempt to gain a foothold outside Sudzha.
Reports from Ukrainian and Russian bloggers are mixed. Some claim that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) responded with artillery to halt the advance, while a few Russian bloggers argue the operation lacked proper logistics and was a disaster. Others, however, claim it was a success.
Regardless, it appears the Russians made some gains from this operation. Whether they can hold them remains to be seen.
The purpose of the Kursk operation was to give Kyiv a bargaining chip in negotiations and to force Russia to divert troops from its eastern operations. This campaign has seen significant bloodshed since it began in August.