Russia's special forces have reportedly used a gas pipeline to surprise Ukrainian troops in a key position in the Kursk region. Pro-Russian military bloggers claimed the soldiers walked along the inside of a major gas pipeline before attacking the Ukrainian rear position in Sudzha. Vladimir Putin's forces are believed to have made significant gains in the Kursk region - part of which is occupied by Ukraine - and Kyiv's forces may now be on the verge of a major retreat.

"At present, Russian special forces are being detected, blocked and destroyed. The enemy's losses in Sudzha are very high," the General Staff reported. Open-source intelligence maps yesterday showed that Ukraine's forces were nearly surrounded in Kursk, something which could be devastating for Zelensky any potential peace negotiations.

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