Russian troops sneak through gas pipeline to attack Ukrainian soldiers

Russian forces managed to infiltrate Ukrainian lines near Sudzha, Kursk region, using an inactive section of a gas pipeline, according to Kursk region governor Alexander Khinshtein. He claimed the operation helped breach Ukrainian defensive positions in the area.
Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed that Russian troops attempted to advance underground via the pipeline but said they were detected in time. Ukrainian forces, prepared for the maneuver, reportedly launched missile and artillery strikes on the infiltrating units.
According to the Ukrainian military, Russian troops aimed to establish a foothold on the city's outskirts but were spotted by drones operated by the Airborne Assault Troops. The General Staff released a video purportedly showing strikes on Russian forces moving along the pipeline.
The Progress gas pipeline, which has a diameter of 1.4 meters, was built by the Soviet Union in 1988, and was used to transport Russian gas to Europe through Ukraine. However, on January 1, 2025, all supplies through this route ceased.
The DeepState OSINT project, which closely tracks battlefield developments, reported that Ukrainian-controlled territory in the Kursk region shrank by 17% in the past week.