Russian forces walked inside a gas pipeline to strike Ukrainian troops from the rear in Kursk

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

Updated 6:37 AM CDT, March 9, 2025

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian special forces walked inside a gas pipeline to strike Ukrainian units from the rear in the Kursk region, Ukraine’s military and Russian war bloggers reported, as Moscow moves to recapture parts of its border province that Kyiv seized in a shock offensive.

Ukraine launched in August a daring cross-border incursion into Kursk, in what marked the largest attack on Russian territory since World War II. Within days, Ukrainian units had captured 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of territory, including the strategic border town of Sudzha, and taken hundreds of Russian prisoners of war. According to Kyiv, the operation aimed to gain a bargaining chip in future peace talks, and force Russia to divert troops away from its grinding offensive in eastern Ukraine.

But months after Ukraine’s thunder run, its soldiers in Kursk are weary and bloodied by relentless assaults of more than 50,000 troops, including some from Russia’s ally North Korea. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers run the risk of being encircled, open source maps of the battlefield show.

According to Telegram posts by a Ukrainian-born, pro-Kremlin blogger, Russian operatives walked about 15 kilometers (9 miles) inside the pipeline, which Moscow had until recently used to send gas to Europe. Some Russian troops had spent several days in the pipe before striking Ukrainian units from the rear near the town of Sudzha, blogger Yuri Podolyaka claimed.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kursk-pipeline-f50051404ca607d9cadd8bc9697aa50c

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Why weren't they overcome by fumes?

Their breathing apparatus was sufficient for them to walk nine miles?

[drray23]

2. Obviously the gas flow was interrupted.

Natural gas pipelines which are now not in use because Russia cut off its supply to Ukraine. The interruption happened at the start of the war so a long time ago meaning most gas was purged.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. According to Telegram posts ...

According to Telegram posts by a Ukrainian-born, pro-Kremlin blogger, Russian operatives walked about 15 kilometers (9 miles) inside the pipeline, which Moscow had until recently used to send gas to Europe.

[Igel]

4. Still, pipelines were disused.

And having a volume of pressured methane just sitting there is not a pro-active safety measure. In other words, the lines would have purged.

Same effect, same process, just different dates.

[Igel]

5. Some clever strategist earned his pay that day.

(I can recognize a clever tactic, even if it's for a goal I loathe. Wish the Ukrainians had thought of it first.)

[Teacher of the Year]

7. I saw on another website that the Ukranians knew and were waiting at the end of the tunnel.

With cluster bombs that wiped out most of the Russians when they exited the tunnel.. I will see if I can find the link.

[Igel]

8. "Mission accomplished," Bush style, then?

Just the idea makes me a bit cheerier.

[GB_RN]

6. Well...

The article headline is a bit misleading. And the article doesn’t tell the whole/real story, either. Ukraine has said they knew of the attack, and struck strategically, cutting off the Russian’s exit, resulting in 80% of the Russian special forces being “neutralized.” (Their word, not mine)

[electric_blue68]

9. Well, I hope so! Slava Ukraini!