Latest news with #OperationPotok
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russian victory or a massacre? What really happened in the Kursk pipeline
SCHEDULE 6AM For two days, the oxygen-starved Russian troops crawled nine miles through a pitch-black underground pipeline, creeping behind enemy lines and springing a surprise attack which wiped out the enemy in a blaze of bullets. The Ukrainian soldiers had no idea that Operation Potok was coming. Hundreds of men streamed out, storming Ukrainian positions north of Sudzha, pushing them back out of Russia in a triumphant counter-offensive to save the motherland. It was Russia's elite forces who 'burst out unexpectedly, like demons – black, dirty, and exhausted' according to a soldier with the call sign 'Mowgli'. The 'soldiers from the pipe' became the stuff of legend and those who returned were welcomed home as war heroes. 'Blow up all your pipes out of fear... we'll still come to you from under the ground,' goes a new song about the mission, first performed outside a church in central Russia, where a 50ft replica had been installed for people to admire. The story, that Ukraine's military told was completely different, however. The raid, they said, became a massacre – the Russians that took part were not heroes, but victims of Russia's poor and careless military planning. And they saw them coming. The truth, according to analysts, military bloggers and those involved, is more nuanced. Last August, Ukraine launched a surprise invasion into Russia's western border region of Kursk, marking the first foreign invasion of Russian soil since the Second World War. Kyiv's bridgehead inside Russia, it hoped, would be a key bargaining chip heading into any talks over the end of the war. But Moscow's forces slowly chipped away at the roughly 500 square miles it seized, throwing tens of thousands of Russians and North Koreans into brutal assaults to take it back. By the start of March, Kyiv had lost over 64 per cent of its Kursk salient. The Russian counter-offensive was advancing fast, operating a double pincer movement that threatened to cut off key supply routes to Sudzha, while Ukraine was retreating west. Then, on March 5, Washington cut intelligence sharing, a vital component of Kyiv's ability to track enemy movements. Kremlin officials warned they would take advantage of the information blackout – which lasted until March 11 – to 'inflict maximum damage'. Analysts say it helped contribute to Russia's sudden successes in Kursk after months of grinding advances. Operation Potok (Operation Stream) took place within that time-frame. What happened inside the pipe? Describing the details of the operation, a Russian commander, who uses the call sign 'Zombie', said the preparations took three weeks. Other Russian accounts say construction started in January. 'We had to pump the gas out, pump the oxygen in, build extra exits to the surface, transport the ammunition, food, water, military personnel.' All of this, 'Zombie' claimed, was carried out without Ukrainian forces noticing. 'The enemy did not see us.' He claims 800 troops were sent into the pipeline, while the Kremlin puts the figure at 600. There is no visual evidence that suggests a force of that size. Once the troops were inside the 55in-diameter pipeline – which two months before was transporting Siberian gas to Europe – the conditions were brutal. Moving in complete darkness, troops complained of no oxygen, heavy fumes, and freezing cold temperatures. A soldier with the call sign 'Medve' said: 'There was panic because of the tight space, the darkness. 'When we went into that pipe, it was scary, it was tough, but what can you do? We had to do the task that we were assigned to,' he said. It was later emerged many of the Russians suffered severe chemical burns to their lungs from inhaling fumes, including high quantities of methane, in the cramped pipe. Scans showed clogged and hugely inflated lungs. Their symptoms increased 'like an avalanche', turning into 'pneumonia and respiratory failure,' Vadim – call sign 'Torero' (bullfighter) – a doctor in Russia's Akhmat special forces unit told 'This is the first time we've seen this. First time in the world, really,' another medic said. There has been no official comment from Russia on the casualties of the operation. Unverified videos inside the pipe show what appear to be bodies stacked on top of one another. What happened outside? The raid, according to Russian media, was based on a similar attack in January 2024, when a sewage pipe was used to try and encircle a Ukrainian unit near the battered Donetsk city of Avdiivka. Like on March 8, Russia claimed the infiltration as a success, Kyiv said it was quickly stopped. 'We burst out unexpectedly, like demons – black, dirty, and exhausted. But we pressed on,' a soldier who goes by 'Mowgli' told the Kremlin-backed RT channel. Galery Gerasimov, Russia's military chief, reported that 600 troops burst from the pipe and 'surprised the enemy, contributing to the collapse of its defences and the development of our offensive'. Ukrainian analysts estimate only a hundred Russians left the pipe. By the evening of March 8, Ukraine's general staff confirmed the 'attempted' raid, but said the enemy troops had been spotted inside the pipe by aerial reconnaissance units 'in a timely manner'. Once the soot-faced troops emerged, they were 'detected, blocked and destroyed' in cluster strikes. 'The enemy's losses in Sudzha are very high,' it added. Ukrainian military bloggers described it as a bloodbath and claimed 'hundreds' had already suffocated or been poisoned by fumes in the pipeline. Ukraine's military declined to discuss any further details with The Telegraph due to the 'ongoing hostilities' in the Kursk region. Footage, taken by Ukrainian drones, show groups of Russian infantry emerging from pipeline exits, suggesting that the enemy manoeuvre had been anticipated. Ukraine's air assault forces posted footage of missile and artillery strikes targeting small clusters of Russians forces after they exited the pipe north of Sudzha, which was verified by open-source analysts. 'The Russian forces did not achieve a surprise [attack] as the drones were waiting, but at the same time Ukraine didn't have troops in position to stop them and relied on drones and artillery,' analysts at UAcontrolmap told The Telegraph. Myroslav Hai, a Ukrainian armed forces officer, claimed 80 per cent of the Russian forces in the pipe were killed in Ukraine's 'well organised' counter-ambush. 'At the critical moment, we blocked the exit, preventing any escape. The group was then destroyed.' He reported Russian forces were heard complaining in radio intercepts 'they were thrown to a sure death'. Yuriy Butusov, a Ukrainian war correspondent, was more conservative in assessment. He claimed Russian troops had managed to move through the pipeline 'unnoticed' and drove a 'wedge into our battle formations'. 'The enemy is now being eliminated,' he added on the evening of March 8. It raises the question whether Ukraine may have been more prepared if the US hasn't cut off intelligence. On March 9, the Russian military claimed to have recaptured three settlements, Malaya Lokhnya, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye and Kositsa, all north of Sudzha. 'The lid of the smoking cauldron is almost closed,' Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president, said on Telegram. 'The offensive continues.' The same day, the Institute for the Study of War reported that Russian forces 'collapsing' the northern part of Ukraine's Kursk salient and advancing into northeastern Sudzha. On March 13, Russia claimed to have retaken Sudzha. Three days later, Ukraine quietly confirmed its troops had completely withdrawn from the key logistics hub. Kyiv's troops now occupy a sliver of high ground close to the Ukraine border, where fierce fights are ongoing. 'The dramatic shift in the situation on the front can be attributed to the success of Russia's top-secret Operation Potok,' RT reported on March 11 after the details of the operation were released. But analysts say the operation was unlikely to have made a genuine contribution to Ukraine's retreat in Kursk. The analysts at UAcontrolmap said Kyiv's forces were 'already well on their way to pulling out' of villages close to Sudzha that Russia claimed following the ambush. Ivan Stupak, a military expert and former Ukrainian security service officer, agreed, saying Kyiv was already on the retreat 'due to a cocktail of factors', with the US intelligence blackout being just one of many. 'The situation had been tough, Ukraine's troops were exhausted, had limited resources, had taken heavy casualties, and were highly outnumbered,' he told The Telegraph. 'The loss of intelligence is only part of the equation'. He estimated 'hundreds' of Russians died as a result of the pipeline mission. 'It was a biblical story where [Russian] soldiers exited from beneath the earth and saved the motherland,' said Ksenia Luchenko, an independent Russian journalist, on Telegram. In the end, it was just a 'plotline, a myth that heroises the Russian army'. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Russian victory or massacre? What really happened in the Kursk pipeline
For two days, oxygen-starved Russian troops crawled nine miles through a pitch-black underground pipeline, creeping behind enemy lines and springing a surprise attack that wiped out the enemy in a blaze of bullets. The Ukrainian soldiers had no idea that Operation Potok was coming. Hundreds of men streamed out of the pipeline, storming Ukrainian positions north of Sudzha, pushing them back out of Russia in a triumphant counter-offensive to save the motherland. It was Russia's elite forces who 'burst out unexpectedly, like demons – black, dirty, and exhausted', according to a soldier with the call sign 'Mowgli'. The 'soldiers from the pipe' became the stuff of legend, and those who returned were welcomed home as war heroes. 'Blow up all your pipes out of fear... we'll still come to you from under the ground,' goes a new song about the mission, first performed outside a church in central Russia, where a 50ft replica had been installed for people to admire. The story that Ukraine's military told was completely different, however. The raid, they said, became a massacre – the Russians that took part were not heroes, but victims of poor and careless military planning. And they saw them coming. The truth, according to analysts, military bloggers and those involved, is more nuanced. Last August, Ukraine launched a surprise invasion of Russia's western border region of Kursk, marking the first foreign invasion of Russian soil since the Second World War. Kyiv's bridgehead inside Russia would, it hoped, be a key bargaining chip heading into any talks over the end of the war. But Moscow's forces slowly chipped away at the roughly 500 square miles it seized, throwing tens of thousands of Russians and North Koreans into brutal assaults to take it back. By the start of March, Kyiv had lost over 64 per cent of its Kursk salient. The Russian counter-offensive was advancing fast, operating a double pincer movement that threatened to cut off key supply routes to Sudzha, while Ukraine was retreating west. Then, on March 5, Washington cut intelligence sharing, a vital component of Kyiv's ability to track enemy movements. Kremlin officials warned that they would take advantage of the information blackout – which lasted until March 11 – to 'inflict maximum damage'. Analysts said it helped contribute to Russia's sudden successes in Kursk after months of grinding advances. Operation Potok (Operation Stream) took place within that time-frame. Describing the details of the operation, a Russian commander, who uses the call sign 'Zombie', said the preparations took three weeks. Other Russian accounts said construction started in January. 'We had to pump the gas out, pump the oxygen in, build extra exits to the surface, transport the ammunition, food, water, military personnel,' said 'Zombie', who claimed all of this was carried out without Ukrainian forces noticing. 'The enemy did not see us.' He claimed 800 troops were sent into the pipeline, while the Kremlin puts the figure at 600. There is no visual evidence that suggests a force of that size. Once the troops were inside the 55in-diameter pipeline – which two months before was transporting Siberian gas to Europe – the conditions were brutal. Moving in complete darkness, troops complained of no oxygen, heavy fumes, and freezing cold temperatures. A soldier with the call sign 'Medve' said: 'There was panic because of the tight space, the darkness. When we went into that pipe, it was scary, it was tough, but what can you do? We had to do the task that we were assigned to.' It was later emerged that many of the Russians suffered severe chemical burns to their lungs from inhaling fumes, including high quantities of methane, in the cramped pipe. Scans showed clogged and hugely inflated lungs. Their symptoms increased 'like an avalanche', turning into 'pneumonia and respiratory failure', Vadim – call sign 'Torero' (bullfighter), and a doctor in Russia's Akhmat special forces unit – told 'This is the first time we've seen this. First time in the world, really,' said another medic. There has been no official comment from Russia on the casualties of the operation. Unverified videos inside the pipe showed what appeared to be bodies stacked on top of one another. The raid, according to Russian media, was based on a similar attack in January last year, when a sewage pipe was used to try and encircle a Ukrainian unit near the battered Donetsk city of Avdiivka. As on March 8, Russia claimed the infiltration as a success, but Kyiv said it was quickly stopped. Valery Gerasimov, Russia's military chief, reported that 600 troops burst from the pipe and 'surprised the enemy, contributing to the collapse of its defences and the development of our offensive'. Ukrainian analysts estimated that only 100 Russians left the pipe. By the evening of March 8, Ukraine's general staff confirmed the 'attempted' raid, but said the enemy troops had been spotted inside the pipe by aerial reconnaissance units 'in a timely manner'. Once the soot-faced troops emerged, they were 'detected, blocked and destroyed' in cluster strikes. 'The enemy's losses in Sudzha are very high,' it added. Ukrainian military bloggers described it as a bloodbath and claimed 'hundreds' had already suffocated or been poisoned by fumes in the pipeline. Ukraine's military declined to discuss any further details with The Telegraph because of the 'ongoing hostilities' in the Kursk region. Footage taken by Ukrainian drones showed groups of Russian infantry emerging from pipeline exits, suggesting the manoeuvre had been anticipated. Ukraine's air assault forces posted footage of missile and artillery strikes targeting small clusters of Russians forces after they exited the pipe north of Sudzha, verified by open-source analysts. 'The Russian forces did not achieve a surprise [attack] as the drones were waiting, but at the same time Ukraine didn't have troops in position to stop them and relied on drones and artillery,' analysts at UAcontrolmap told The Telegraph. Myroslav Hai, a Ukrainian armed forces officer, claimed 80 per cent of the Russian forces in the pipe were killed in Ukraine's 'well organised' counter-ambush. 'At the critical moment we blocked the exit, preventing any escape. The group was then destroyed,' he said. He reported Russian forces were heard complaining in radio intercepts that they were 'thrown to a sure death'. Yuriy Butusov, a Ukrainian war correspondent, was more conservative in assessment. He claimed Russian troops had managed to move through the pipeline 'unnoticed' and drove a 'wedge into our battle formations'. 'The enemy is now being eliminated,' he added on the evening of March 8. It raises the question whether Ukraine may have been more prepared if the US had not cut off intelligence. On March 9, the Russian military claimed to have recaptured three settlements – Malaya Lokhnya, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye and Kositsa – all north of Sudzha. 'The lid of the smoking cauldron is almost closed,' Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president, said on Telegram. 'The offensive continues.' The same day, the Institute for the Study of War reported that Russian forces 'collapsing' the northern part of Ukraine's Kursk salient and advancing into north-eastern Sudzha. On March 13, Russia claimed to have retaken Sudzha. Three days later, Ukraine quietly confirmed that its troops had completely withdrawn from the key logistics hub. Kyiv's troops now occupy a sliver of high ground close to the Ukraine border, where fierce fights are ongoing. 'The dramatic shift in the situation on the front can be attributed to the success of Russia's top-secret Operation Potok,' RT reported on March 11 after details of the operation were released. But analysts said the operation was unlikely to have made a genuine contribution to Ukraine's retreat in Kursk. The analysts at UAcontrolmap said Kyiv's forces were 'already well on their way to pulling out' of villages close to Sudzha that Russia claimed following the ambush. Ivan Stupak, a military expert and former Ukrainian security service officer, agreed, saying Ukraine was already on the retreat 'due to a cocktail of factors', with the US intelligence blackout being just one of many. 'The situation had been tough, Ukraine's troops were exhausted, had limited resources, had taken heavy casualties, and were highly outnumbered,' he told The Telegraph. 'The loss of intelligence is only part of the equation'. He estimated that 'hundreds' of Russians died as a result of the pipeline mission. 'It was a biblical story where [Russian] soldiers exited from beneath the earth and saved the motherland,' said Ksenia Luchenko, an independent Russian journalist, on Telegram. In the end, it was just 'a plot line, a myth that heroises the Russian army'.
Russia Today
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Putin praises troops behind secret ‘pipeline operation'
Moscow's swift offensive in the Kursk Region, including the now-famous Potok ('Flow') operation, has helped cut Ukrainian supply lines, leaving Kiev's forces nearly encircled and in disarray, Russian President Vladimir Putin was told during a visit to a command post in the area on Wednesday. Russia has recently intensified its counteroffensive in the Kursk Region, which was invaded by Ukrainian forces in August 2024. Reporting to the commander-in-chief on the operation's progress, Chief of the General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov highlighted the 'heroic actions' of the combined assault unit of the Veterans volunteer detachment. 'The assault team of this combined formation, numbering more than 600 people, used a gas transmission pipe to cover a distance of about 15 kilometers and infiltrate the combat formations of the armed forces of Ukraine,' Gerasimov reported. The clandestine raid, dubbed by the media as Operation Potok ('Flow'), marked a shift from the prolonged positional phase in Kursk. A specially trained unit infiltrated Ukrainian positions by moving through an abandoned gas pipeline that once transported Russian gas to Europe until Kiev shut it down on January 1, 2025. 'These actions came as a surprise to the enemy and contributed to the collapse of its defenses and the development of our offensive in the Kursk Region,' Gerasimov added. Putin praised the Veterans, which included personnel from the 11th Airborne Assault Brigade, the 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment, and the Akhmat special forces detachment, for their 'audacity and efficiency.' He also commended more than a dozen other units and detachments participating in the liberation of the Kursk Region. The pipeline mission was carefully planned for months and executed in early March. The journey through the pipeline was arduous, as soldiers spent several days navigating the confined, poorly ventilated space. Oxygen supply was a major concern, with residual gas in the pipeline making breathing difficult. Engineering teams installed makeshift ventilation systems and drilled air holes to provide relief. Fighters moved in small groups, spaced out to maintain a steady flow of oxygen, while supplies such as water and essential equipment were transported on carts. After days of waiting near exit points, Russian forces launched their assault on March 8. Exiting through pre-prepared openings, they quickly took control of key positions. Ukrainian forces, caught off guard, attempted resistance but were either eliminated or forced to flee, abandoning equipment and supplies. Russian reinforcements, including armored vehicles, soon arrived to consolidate gains. This was not the first time Russian forces employed pipeline infiltration tactics. A similar method was used in January 2024, when Russian scouts infiltrated Ukrainian positions in Avdeevka, Donetsk People's Republic, via an abandoned pipeline.
Russia Today
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
‘We burst out unexpectedly, like demons': How Russia's ‘pipeline operation' crushed Ukrainian defenses in Kursk
The Russian army is conducting a major counteroffensive in Kursk Region, which was invaded by Ukrainian forces in August 2024. In just the past 24 hours, Russian troops have liberated 12 settlements and recaptured over 100 square kilometers of territory. This week, the industrial zone in Sudzha, the largest Russian city under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), was also retaken. Ukrainian forces are retreating. This was made clear by the AFU commander-in-chief, General Aleksandr Syrsky, who said that 'units are taking timely measures to maneuver to favorable defense lines.' The dramatic shift in the situation on the front can be attributed to the success of Russia's top-secret Operation Potok ('Flow'). A unit of 800 Russian soldiers walked several miles through an empty gas pipeline to infiltrate Ukrainian positions. Below are the details of this operation. Prior to January 1, 2025, gas was transported from Russia to Europe via the Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod pipeline, which passes through Ukrainian territory. Although Vladimir Zelensky halted gas transit, the pipeline remains. Russian fighters decided to utilize these pipes to secretly approach the fortified positions of the AFU near Sudzha. Preparations for the operation took about four months. The mission itself started in early March and lasted just over a week. The primary goal was to conduct sabotage operations in enemy territory, compel Ukrainian forces to withdraw from occupied areas in Kursk and move toward Sudzha, where they would be met by Russian March 1, oxygen tanks were delivered to the site of the operation. The following day, Russian soldiers entered the gas pipeline in small groups, and started moving toward Sudza. This isn't the first time that Russian troops have employed 'pipeline tactics.' In January 2024, military scouts, along with the 'Veterany' unit, used an abandoned pipe to reach the rear positions of the AFU in a fortified area on the southern outskirts of Avdeevka in the Donetsk People's Republic. Amid artillery and mortar shelling, which masked the sounds of the work, Russian troops cleared the two-kilometer-long (1.2-mile) passage and installed ventilation. This operation greatly helped Russian forces capture the Avdeevka fortress. 'This isn't the first time they've used the pipes, that's for sure. In Sudzha, they leveraged the experience gained from a previous mission in Avdeevka. From what I understand, some of the guys from the 'Veterany' unit who participated in the Avdeevka operation were also involved in [the operation in] Sudza,' says military blogger and volunteer of the Española Brigade, Alexey Zhivov. However, this time, the situation was a lot more complex. The soldiers spent several days in complete darkness, with limited access to fresh air. In such conditions, they had to navigate over 15 kilometers (more than 9 miles) through a 1.4-meter-wide (4.5-foot) pipe. Numerous challenges arose during the operation. Although the pipe was wide, it wasn't tall enough for the fighters to walk upright. Moreover, some leftover gas remained inside, so it was difficult to breathe. Engineering troops devised a ventilation system, drilling holes wherever possible to allow air to flow in. Special protective gear was necessary to prevent poisoning. Carts were used to deliver water and other essentials. In an exclusive RT video, at 04:34, we can see a fighter showing one of these carts to reporters. The soldiers moved in groups of five, maintaining a distance of about ten meters. When they paused, they spread out two meters from each other to breathe more comfortably. 'While they were looking for oxygen and preparing everything, many compromised their health. Our guys spent days hauling communications equipment, water, and living in that pipe,' military correspondents said about the operation. The entry into the pipe, conducted in small groups to avoid drawing the enemy's attention and raising suspicions, stretched over four days. It took several days to move through the pipe, and then the troops had to wait a few more days to receive orders for the assault. Near the exit points, special underground facilities were set up, and food, water, and ammunition supplies were stockpiled. One of the key exit points was the bypass road north of Sudzha. By the morning of March 8, the fighters were ready for the assault. On receiving the appropriate command, they exited the pipe through pre-prepared openings and brought the necessary supplies to the surface. From there, they went on to execute their combat missions. The large unit split up and dispersed across the area. Some fighters headed toward the industrial part of Sudzha, while others targeted nearby settlements. The operation caught the Ukrainian army off guard. Some Ukrainian forces attempted to resist but were swiftly eliminated; the rest fled, abandoning their equipment and resources. 'The enemy was taken by surprise; Ukrainians began shelling the pipe with cluster munitions approximately half an hour after the landing [of the Russians]. However, Russian troops had already infiltrated the area and secured their positions, causing panic among the AFU,' said military expert Evgeny Klimov about this phase of the operation. To capitalize on their success and secure a foothold in the area, the Russians are deploying new units and divisions, backed by armored vehicles. The fighters who took part in the operation attacked the enemy and also helped other units advance. The element of surprise led to the chaotic retreat of the AFU as the Ukrainians attempted to flee Sudzha and its surroundings. Meanwhile, the Russians attacked them by means of artillery and drones. Around 800 fighters from various units participated in the operation, including the 11th and 106th Brigades, the 30th Regiment, Marine Corps units, the Veterany Brigade, the Vostok Brigade, and the Akhmat special forces unit. All of them volunteered to take part, fully aware that this might be a one-way mission. 'Russian assault troops spent several days preparing for this operation, using precision-guided bombs to clear the area from which they would launch their assault on Sudzha,' sources familiar with the planning revealed. 'To make our way through the pipe, we had to pump out the gas and inject oxygen... Once we received the order, we got out, immediately entered the industrial zone, and took control of it, pushing back the enemy. The enemy was caught off guard, and this led to confusion and panic [in the AFU]. Thanks to this, we liberated many settlements: Cherkasskoye Porechnoe, Malaya Loknya, Martynovka, Pravda, Mikhailovka, Kubatkin, and many others. The enemy never anticipated such an offensive or that our forces could infiltrate its rear, 15 kilometers from the front lines,' recounted Boris, a fighter in the special forces. A former PMC Wagner fighter who also participated in the operation reflected on its main challenges. 'The first 72 hours were the toughest; we consumed a lot of painkillers. My lungs burned, and I had a splitting headache. Then came the fever, and tears flowed… There were moments of hallucination…' 'It was exhausting, yes,' said a fighter with the military call sign 'Mowgli'. 'It was tough, but we made it through. We burst out unexpectedly, like demons – black, dirty, and exhausted. But we pressed on.' 'Our job is to go anywhere and at any time. We had to push ourselves beyond our limits. Panic set in due to the confined space and darkness. We had to crawl through the pipe. Imagine being two meters tall and having to bend down to fit into a pipe that's only 1.4 meters wide. But that was minor compared to our goal: to show up where they least expected us and in such numbers that it would instill fear and send them running. And that's exactly what happened,' explained a soldier with the call sign 'Medved' ('Bear'). After the operation, Lieutenant General Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Akhmat special forces, showed the process of preparing the troops for the mission. During a motivational speech on the evening of March 1, he described the upcoming mission as pivotal and referred to all participants as heroes. 'When we accomplish this task, the course of this war will change completely,' he predicted. Russian military analysts believe that, thanks to this operation, the full liberation of Kursk Region is just around the corner. 'Considering what's happening across all fronts, the complete liberation of Kursk is just a matter of time. I think it'll be a week or two – our soldiers are professional and highly motivated,' retired Captain Vasily Dandikin said in a recent media interview. With rain expected this week, Ukrainian forces will struggle to navigate dirt roads. Meanwhile, Russian troops are encircling them, blowing up bridges, and have already liberated over ten settlements in just a few days. This rapid progress indicates a collapse in the enemy's defenses, Dandikin explained. He noted the significance of liberating Malaya Loknya – a settlement near Sudzha which Russian fighters were able to reach through the gas pipeline. The circle around Sudzha is closing in, and when Russian forces advance along major routes, the Ukrainian army will be forced to flee. 'The enemy has no options left in this situation,' Dandikin concluded.
