Russia Recaptures More Areas in Kursk, Surprises Ukrainian Troops Using Gas Pipeline – Reuters
Russia’s army has taken control of three more areas in the western Kursk region, pushing Ukrainian forces out, according to Russia’s Defence Ministry. Reuters reported that this is part of Russia’s efforts to regain land after Ukraine captured some of its territory seven months ago.
How Did Russia Do It?
According to Reuters, Russian special forces used an unusual tactic to surprise Ukrainian soldiers. They reportedly crawled for about 16 kilometers (10 miles) inside a gas pipeline near the town of Sudzha before attacking Ukrainian troops from behind. A pro-Russian blogger named Two Majors said that a major battle was happening in Sudzha, and this surprise attack played a key role.
Ukraine’s military confirmed that Russian soldiers tried to use a pipeline to enter the area but said they were quickly spotted and attacked with rockets, artillery, and drones. According to Reuters, Ukraine’s military also said they had stopped 15 Russian attacks in the Kursk region, with more fights still ongoing.
Why Is This Important?
Russia has been aggressively pushing forward, trying to trap Ukrainian troops in Kursk. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev posted on Telegram that Ukraine’s forces were nearly surrounded. Reuters reported that if this happens, Ukraine could face major losses in the region.
Ukraine originally seized about 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Kursk land in August, hoping to use it as a bargaining tool in future peace talks. However, Reuters noted that Russia is now reversing Ukraine’s gains, making negotiations harder for Kyiv.
Bigger Global Concerns
Russia’s recent advances, combined with U.S. politics, are worrying European leaders. Reuters reported that former U.S. President Donald Trump has shifted America’s stance on Ukraine, even pausing military aid and intelligence sharing after a tense February 28 meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This has raised fears in Europe that Ukraine could lose the war.
Meanwhile, in other battle zones, Russia’s forces captured a village in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, Reuters stated.
Additionally, in Russian-held Kherson, Ukraine reportedly launched a missile strike on a crowded market, killing two people and injuring seven, according to Russian sources. However, Reuters could not independently confirm this.
What Happens Next?
With spring arriving, Ukraine now faces a tough decision—whether to retreat from Kursk and risk Russian attacks during withdrawal or stay and fight despite being nearly surrounded.
Reuters emphasized that this situation could heavily impact Ukraine’s war strategy in the coming months.
Credit: Reuters