Russian Forces Strike Ukrainian Units, Drones Target Russian Oil, Sparking Starlink Concerns

Russian Special Forces Infiltrate Gas Pipeline to Strike Ukrainian Units in Kursk

In a daring move, Russian special forces infiltrated a gas pipeline to launch a surprise attack on Ukrainian units stationed near the town of Sudzha in the Kursk region. This development comes as Moscow claims fresh gains in its efforts to recapture parts of the border province that Ukraine seized in a surprise offensive earlier this year.

The Ukrainian incursion into Kursk in August marked the largest attack on Russian territory since World War II. Ukrainian forces quickly captured 1,000 square kilometers of territory, including Sudzha, and took hundreds of Russian soldiers prisoner. However, months of relentless assaults by Russian and North Korean troops have left Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk weary and at risk of encirclement.

According to pro-Kremlin bloggers, Russian operatives walked about 15 kilometers inside the gas pipeline, which was previously used to transport gas to Europe. Some troops spent several days inside the pipeline before launching their attack on Ukrainian units from the rear.

Fierce fighting erupted near Sudzha, with Russian forces reportedly entering the town through the gas pipeline. Photos circulating on Russian Telegram channels showed special forces operatives wearing gas masks and moving through the pipeline's interior.

Ukraine's General Staff confirmed that Russian "sabotage and assault groups" used the pipeline to gain a foothold near Sudzha. However, they claim that the Russian troops were "detected in a timely manner" and that Ukrainian forces responded with rockets and artillery.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry reported that its troops had captured four villages near Sudzha, with the closest lying about 12 kilometers from the town center. Ukraine has not yet commented on these claims.

In other developments, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that France will use profits from frozen Russian assets to finance an additional 195 million euros in arms for Ukraine. This latest aid package includes 155 mm artillery shells and glide bombs for Mirage 2000 fighter jets.

Additionally, Ukrainian drones reportedly targeted oil infrastructure in southern and central Russia overnight. One drone struck an oil depot in Cheboksary, while another targeted a major oil refinery in Ryazan. Ukraine has not commented on these incidents.

Concerns that Elon Musk could turn off Starlink satellite internet service to Ukraine sparked a heated exchange on X between Musk, the Polish foreign minister, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While Musk claimed that Poland pays a "tiny fraction" of the cost for Starlink and that there is no substitute, Rubio emphasized the vital role Starlink has played in Ukraine's defense against Russia.