Kiev, 9 March 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The Russian military attempted to retake the Ukrainian-held town of Sudzha in Russia's western Kursk region by sending soldiers through a gas pipeline, Ukraine's military authorities said.

Ukraine's general staff said late Saturday that Russian forces were "discovered in time" by an air reconnaissance team and repelled with missiles, artillery and drones.

The claim could not be independently verified. Russian military blogs had earlier reported the attempted assault on Sudzha.

The pipeline used was reportedly part of a system that supplied Russian gas to Europe until early this year. The pipes have a diameter of 1.4 meters.

Ukraine has been defending against Russia's all-out invasion for three years. Last summer, Ukrainian forces seized parts of the Kursk region in a surprise counterattack. In recent months, however, heavy fighting has pushed them back.

Ukrainian troops in the region are reportedly facing further difficulties, possibly due to the US halting intelligence-sharing, including satellite imagery.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called the Kursk offensive an important bargaining chip in potential negotiations with Moscow.

Russian forces continue to occupy roughly one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory.

Photo: EPA archive