The Pipeline Raid Of Sudzha
Throughout the war in Ukraine natural gas was still pumped through the Brotherhood (Druzhba) pipeline system from Russia via Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia.
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At the beginning of the year the government of Ukraine decided to close the connection. It shut off the valves on Ukrainian ground. That event will be marked the end of the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region of Russia.
The map shows the Ukrainian held ground in Russia as of January 1 2025. It includes the city of Sudzha and some 20 Russian hamlets and villages.
bigger via LiveUAmap
The Brotherhood pipeline system consists of five parallel tubes with a diameter of 1.4 meters (4'8"). These run roughly parallel to the 34k-004 road (H-07 in Ukraine) from Kursk southwest-wards passing north of Sudzah on towards Sumy in Ukraine.
The pipes are buried in the ground. Due to vegetation disturbances the buried pipelines are visible in satellite pictures.
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Sometime after January 1 the Russian command responsible for the area developed a plan to use the pipeline system to attack the Ukrainian enemy from behind.
Natural gas was drained from one of the pipes of the Brotherhood pipeline system. Oxygen was pumped into it. Some 15 kilometer (~10 miles) north-east of Sudzha, near Bol'shoye Soldatskoye, an access hole was cut into the pipeline. Soldiers were sent into the pipeline to reconnaissance it. But there was still some natural gas and too little oxygen in the pipeline. The first soldiers fainted and had to be rescued. After weeks of work the pipeline was usable as a covered passageway towards Sudzha.
Drawn from five different military units a force of 800 men was assembled and prepared for the mission.
During the first two month of the year the Ukrainian forces had already lost ground on the western side of their incursion area. The general situation had gotten worse after the Russian forces gained fire control via drones over the only larger supply route from Sumy to Sudzha. Videos from that road showed dozens of wreaked and burned out vehicles. But the Ukrainian lines, and Sudzha, were still holding.
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In early March Russia commandos entered the pipeline (along the arrow above). They used it to get to the north of the industrial zone of Sudzha, started to cut exit-holes and dug through the ground covering the pipeline. Some 800 soldiers followed and settled down within the pipeline.
On March 8, when the command was given, the Russian commandos exited the pipeline and entered nearby woods. They moved on to blockade the 34k-004 road, crossed it and entered the northern part of the industrial zone of Sudzha. There they could dug in. No larger Ukrainian units were in the immediate area. No one could stop the move.
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Hearing reports on their radios of enemies in their back the Ukrainian soldiers panicked. Every unit north-east and east of Sudzha was cut off from supplies. There was no way to retreat. At the same time the Russian army attacked in the west and north of the Ukrainian held area. Resistance soon collapsed. Those who could retreated to Sudzha did so. From there they tried to move back to Ukraine.
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Within one day the Ukrainian held area had shrunk by half. The Russian re-captured and cleared a total of 12 settlements. Current reports say that the Ukrainian forces within Russia are in full retreat along roads under permanent fire. Some will survive.
Meanwhile Russian forces are entering Sudzha.
This operation is a wonderful demonstration of what the Russians call 'Operational Art'. It connects the details of tactics with the goals of the strategy.
The move through the pipeline, behind Ukrainian lines and the cut through major Ukrainian supply lines achieved within days more than months of bloody fighting. The commander of this operation has surely earned some high honors.
Dima of the Military Summary Channel discussed some of the above in yesterday's summary.
A Russian news channel provided an excellent five minute video (with English subtitles) which shows the operation. It includes takes from within the pipeline.
This operation is one for the books.
Posted by b on March 11, 2025 at 17:46 UTC | Permalink
next page »Indeed, the amazing operation sounds like something that Gordon Dickson or Orson Scott Card would have written as military Sci-Fi...I expect that both the commanders and the soldiers involved will get the highest awards Putin can bestow...
Posted by: pyrrhus | Mar 11 2025 17:55 utc | 2
And how do the Western presstitutes react? https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe93c28e0-d029-48ef-940c-bbdbb0907b83_586x614.jpeg
Posted by: Apollyon | Mar 11 2025 17:56 utc | 3
Ah, yes…(tenting one’s fingers and tapping the tips lightly against each other while lost in revelry.) The old pipeline caper.
<<
That Russia’s Special Forces walked 12km through a gas pipeline in order to surprise the AFU & NATO mercs *behind* enemy lines, w/no guarantees that their risky operation would succeed, illustrates a degree of heart & strive & can-do that takes the word “robust” right up to the stratosphere.
Mad respect.
Historians will never stop writing about this. If someday all we have are sticks & cave walls, the story of this pipeline will be etched on cave walls.
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 11 2025 17:57 utc | 4
Throughout the war in Ukraine natural gas was still pumped through the Brotherhood pipeline system from Russia via Ukraine to Hungary and Slovenia.
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Shouldn’t that be Slovakia?
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b here -
Thx, corrected
Posted by: malenkov | Mar 11 2025 18:00 utc | 5
The Daily Telegraph was quick to underscore “Putin’s brutality” in the Kursk region—never mentioning the pipeline gadget trick, by the way—but focusing instead on the AFU and NATO mercs cauldronized near Sudzha.
The phrase “human safari” was invoked to describe “Putin’s brutality.”
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 11 2025 18:08 utc | 7
What I find exciting is the secrecy with such preparation and the number of people involved.
It is therefore also an achievement that I believe no secret service in the world could have achieved... secrecy where everyone involved could be a sympathizer of the enemy or the enemy themselves.
I was involved in the construction of this pipeline in the 80s and 90s as a GDR guest worker, like thousands of other East Germans. An engineering masterpiece because the pipeline does not come to the surface at any point in the area mentioned, meaning that they had to dig through meters of earth when exiting, in the hope that no one passing by would notice them.
Would a NATO general staff have come up with a similar idea?
When I imagine Bundeswehr soldiers entering and then waiting for hours until everyone was ready for action.
The first soldiers are said to have had to endure up to 48 hours before the rest of the team arrived at the exit point.
Hats off
Posted by: Ost Rentner | Mar 11 2025 18:10 utc | 8
They could have dropped paratroopers !
But this was how it shall be remembered for ever.
Are they going for a rout - chasing them all the way back to Kiev?
Lol. That would be totally insane big arrow.
URA!
Now every pipeline will be suspected and they will start filling them in.
If they got any sense.
And their toilets to across Europe incase Russkies start climbing out 😂
Posted by: DunGroanin | Mar 11 2025 18:11 utc | 9
Meanwhile, the Regime Media outlets are practically breaking their wrists to boost word of Ukraine’s incredibly daring and precise drone attack on Moscow and other regions. Politico, Reuters, Bloomberg, the nytimes, WaPo, The Guardian, FT, the Daily Telegraph, The Economist—-oh, yeah, all the Regime Media outlets were ready w/ nearly identical copy.
News of the drone attack is especially noisy in order to drown out some devastating realities in Kursk region.
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 11 2025 18:15 utc | 10
Breaking news
is currently running through the tickers.
"Ukraine supports a 30-day ceasefire"
Will Putin accept it?
And if he does, he has to be careful that nothing is frozen so that there is a REMNANT UKRAINE to arm.
.
And the USA is lifting the stop on arms deliveries with IMMEDIATE EFFECT!
.
P.S.
Without knowing whether Russia will agree to the ceasefire...it's something to think about...who wants to put pressure on here now
Posted by: berthold | Mar 11 2025 18:19 utc | 11
Tunnel war is very WW1 (Somme battle), and was also previously used during the battle for Avdeevka.
And now the retards in the MSM are like :"See, it was actually a good idea to blow up nordstream." ; Nobody can fix such level of stupid.
What are we gonna do with these folks ? Any decent society would "neutered" them but I fear we no longer live in a society ... and they will still have a place in the MSM after. "Flat earth" guys look like being unfortunately more serious than our "TV set four stars".
Posted by: Savonarole | Mar 11 2025 18:19 utc | 12
Lugenpresse is keeping quiet in Pindostan about this one so far. I expect the story to get the hazelnut treatment by western editors until they can't.
From meduz.io, whatever that is.
According to Russian war bloggers and propagandists, a unit of up to 100 soldiers traveled nearly 16 kilometers (about 10 miles) through an underground gas pipe measuring 1.4 meters (about four and a half feet) in diameter. The troops reportedly crawled through the pipe for two days and then waited inside for four more before emerging.
I think I can gather how they would describe this establishment.
Posted by: lex talionis | Mar 11 2025 18:22 utc | 13
I am betting the drone attack was set up by Macron snd Starmer with the help of Zelensky as payback for Trump dismissing their proposal for an air and sea truce backed by the U.S. ten days ago. The most devastating and largest drone attack ever launched by Ukraine takes place directly after these losers propose an “air” truce and on the day of Ukraine and U.S. negotiations? Really?
Posted by: WJ | Mar 11 2025 18:24 utc | 14
@ berthold | Mar 11 2025 18:19 utc | 11
Russian president, Russian top diplomatic core, Russian permanent ambassador to UN have not been shutting up about how "NO CEASEFIRE IS ACCEPTABLE". "But will they agree to a dead discussed without their participation?" Such a mystery.
Posted by: boneless | Mar 11 2025 18:26 utc | 15
Well, I think as long as there are Ukrainians on Russian soil (Kursk) there will never be a ceasefire.
That's the first thing.
The Trump delegation in Riyadh just announced that financial aid for Ukraine will be resumed immediately, NOT just arms deliveries.
By the way: In Germany, Berlin, Paris, London, champagne corks are popping in anticipation... WAIT AND SEE
Putin cannot agree after yesterday's deaths in Moscow and Ukrainians in Kursk... he would have big problems with the hardliners in his own ranks.
But as I said, wait and see...
Posted by: Ost Rentner | Mar 11 2025 18:28 utc | 16
Great summary of the operation which will be recorded in military history books.
Thank you, Mr B.
Posted by: HERMIUS | Mar 11 2025 18:29 utc | 17
Nothing succeeds like success!
However, just not the USA is back in the fight by resuming military aid and intelligence to Ukraine.
More aid seems like a weird way to stage manage their defeat.
Posted by: too scents | Mar 11 2025 18:41 utc | 18
A tremendous and daring operation that will become legendary, hats off to all involved.
One aspect to be considered is that none of the highly-paid NATO “strategists/planners” saw it coming and therefore didn’t take any steps to secure things; utter negligence on their part, which is probably why it’s being played down in the Western legacy media, too many red faces in the Western military hierarchy.
~~~
As for the reported “ceasefire”, forget it, it’s just the West negotiating with itself again.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 11 2025 18:42 utc | 19
just not
Posted by: too scents | Mar 11 2025 18:41 utc | 18
---
just now, at the conclusion of the Jedda talks.
Posted by: too scents | Mar 11 2025 18:43 utc | 20
none of the highly-paid NATO “strategists/planners” saw it coming
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 11 2025 18:42 utc | 19
---
Some people do things, other explain how things are done.
Posted by: too scents | Mar 11 2025 18:45 utc | 21
This is the best summary I have seen of what happened. Fantastic story for the history books!
Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 11 2025 18:46 utc | 22
Will the ghost of Alastair McLean or Freddy Forsyth do a film adaptation of the most daring operation in the history of SMOs?.
.
Can't wait.
Posted by: merkin scot | Mar 11 2025 18:49 utc | 24
This is truly phenomenal. In the late seventies as a young engineer I was sent down a similar sized plastic sewer pipe to examine it for deflection. If you're not sure if you are claustrophobic this is a surefire way to find out. I travelled no more than 30 yards before my anxiety went through the roof and I exited as rapidly as I could. Never been in one since.
But to travel 15 km and 'camp' for 48 hours until given the go ahead is incredible.
Posted by: dontflayme | Mar 11 2025 18:52 utc | 25
More aid seems like a weird way to stage manage their defeat.
Posted by: too scents | Mar 11 2025 18:41 utc | 18
Actually generally staying the course makes perfect political sense in the West.
What is puzzling is watching an administration which has already paid most of the political costs of dropping this particular tar baby going back to it. Now they will own it to the end.
Posted by: Satepestage | Mar 11 2025 18:52 utc | 26
As for the reported “ceasefire”, forget it, it’s just the West negotiating with itself again.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 11 2025 18:42 utc | 19
Forgotten...maybe.
My opinion is that Trump was almost desperately looking for something to force Putin to act, which he hasn't managed so far!
He had to create something to provoke a reaction...and then use it to play the strong man again or to present himself as a successful mediator in the spotlight is another question.
Should Putin agree to a ceasefire??
Would Putin stand as a man who has broken a red line again if you can compare it like that, because Putin always said that a ceasefire only exists in connection with a solution to the set goals.
Trump, on the other hand, is all about directing the pressure of the world that is watching him onto Putin...but no matter how Putin reacts...
IN ANY CASE he wants to come out as the winner...
World, look here, I HAVE...
Posted by: berthold | Mar 11 2025 18:53 utc | 27
Russia would be a fool to trust terrorists again.
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Ukraine launched its biggest drone attack on the Russian capital on Tuesday with at least 91 drones targeting Moscow, killing at least one person, sparking fires, closing airports and forcing dozens of flights to be diverted, Russian officials said.
Posted by: MiniMO | Mar 11 2025 18:54 utc | 28
The heroes of the pipeline operation are returning from a combat mission that has already gone down in history.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 11 2025 18:55 utc | 29
Russia needs to make Kiev pay for what it did to Moscow. Russia not doing much against these terrorists attacks are why Ukraine and the west keeps doing them.
Posted by: MiniMO | Mar 11 2025 18:56 utc | 30
Some people do things, other explain how things are donePosted by: too scents | Mar 11 2025 18:45 utc | 21
And some have to come up with excuses about why something was/wasn’t done...
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 11 2025 18:56 utc | 31
@Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 11 2025 18:42 utc | 19
One aspect to be considered is that none of the highly-paid NATO “strategists/planners” saw it coming and therefore didn’t take any steps to secure things; utter negligence on their part, which is probably why it’s being played down in the Western legacy media, too many red faces in the Western military hierarchy.When the tunnel story broke, in a local forum here (I was thrown out of it last year for citing Scott Ritter) they claimed that the Ukrainians were waiting for the Russians and killed them all when they emerged from the pipe. That tells you something about the level of shameless lies that go on and on until the bubble breaks.
As for the reported “ceasefire”, forget it, it’s just the West negotiating with itself again.Yes, agreed.
Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 11 2025 18:58 utc | 32
Like they say: when you eat with them you get too little, when you fight with them you get too much.
Posted by: Passerby | Mar 11 2025 18:59 utc | 33
Trump, on the other hand, is all about directing the pressure of the world that is watching him onto Putin...but no matter how Putin reacts...
IN ANY CASE he wants to come out as the winner...
World, look here, I HAVE...
Posted by: berthold | Mar 11 2025 18:53 utc | 27
Lol, Zelensky didn't even apologize (unless you believe the "letter", which was a post on X at best), he just sent his pimp Yermak to Jeddah with almost the same demands and Trump folded. Or was it just all for show? Find out in the next episode of DeepStateZ theatre.
Posted by: 5thcolumn | Mar 11 2025 18:59 utc | 34
My opinion here is just to start the arms delivery IMMEDIATELY!
The USA (Trump and Stradegen) are also afraid of Russia's reaction because of the last drone attack.
They can definitely finish off Ukraine in terms of energy and weapons storage if this is VERY massive.
Patriots will be delivered again immediately (possibly to avoid the worst hits)
Posted by: berthold | Mar 11 2025 19:02 utc | 35
My tribute:
The Honeymooners - The man from Space
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 11 2025 19:05 utc | 36
Ah, just wait until the Western media and the Western analysts start claiming the retreat is actually a withdrawal as part of the deal made with the US in Riyahd. They would claim that Russia is not reciprocating the gesture. In fact, even the Trump administration may start the false narrative. That is why I think the Kremlin is warning that people should beware of fake news, during this pseudo negotiation between the US and the Ukrainian junta.
Posted by: Steve | Mar 11 2025 19:06 utc | 37
Russia!!!
As always a class on its own. Invincible!!
Posted by: Aarsupilani | Mar 11 2025 19:06 utc | 38
Hey everyone, good news!
After long difficult negotiations my friends and me have come to an aggreement.
We will have a week of free meals in a 3 star restaurant.
Due to circumstances the restaurant owner was not present for the talks.
All he has to do is simply accept.
Will he finally show he is of good will after all the effort we put in to this plan or is he really not able to compromise?
The ball is in his camp now.
Posted by: Ed Bernays | Mar 11 2025 19:08 utc | 39
@34 5thcolumn
Upsetting for EU also, what are they supposed to do with 150bn in change now ?
/
Posted by: Ornot | Mar 11 2025 19:10 utc | 40
Russians are just superb fighters when they get started in earnest!
I would not bet against them.
Ever.
Posted by: g wiltek | Mar 11 2025 19:12 utc | 41
So much could have gone wrong if they had been discovered.
Testicular fortitude: confirmed.
Great coverage, b, thx!
Reminded me of some of the early footage from the start of the SMO, where we saw the paratroopers gather their equipment drops in front of the media covering it at an airport.
Being a soldier is something I can only poeticize about. I don't like war. View it necessary sometimes. I have read and heard the best soldier is the one who sees himself as already dead.
It is right that the murder of many people be mourned and lamented. It is right that a Victor in war be received with funeral ceremonies.Tao Te Ching, Chap. 31, Le Guin.
I think the sensible barflies can agree that Russia's victory should be observed almost like a funeral. And I wish we could resist labeling them pejoratives, like Nazis. They are Slavic brothers. Ukrainians will realize it and Russia should know that lamenting these hostilities is the surest way to a lasting peace.
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Mar 11 2025 19:13 utc | 42
I think the RF never was in a hurry to free Kursk as to silence domestic SMO critics as well as being able to free up its professional army while conscripts could be used here because they may not fight on the front lines outside Russia. This operation which of course is a major moral booster was probably too easy not to make us off and is yet another sign of the crumbling and weakening state of the Ukrainian military.
Posted by: xor | Mar 11 2025 19:14 utc | 43
The cease fire is a set up, everything Trump, Zelensky and the Brussels Clowns have been up to is a set up, kayfabe, Ukraine accepting a 30 day ceasefire is the poisoned chalice the USA can hand to Putin who will pass it back and say, "sorry, I'm not thirsty" whereupon the Trump admin., or its surrogate the EU, has the justification for the next escalation.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 11 2025 19:15 utc | 44
Makes Shawshank Redemption look like a walk in the park. I hope Putin commissions special mission decorations for those fighters and gives them a name: Pied Pipers.
Posted by: Patroklos | Mar 11 2025 19:17 utc | 45
@34 5thcolumn
Upsetting for EU also, what are they supposed to do with 150bn in change now ?
/
Posted by: Ornot | Mar 11 2025 19:10 utc | 40
Buy more weapons from the US MIC of course, just as planned. Trump owns this war now, just as the MIC owns him. And with this "ceasefire" headlines, the algos are happy gain and the stock market is saved once again, how convenient.
Posted by: 5thcolumn | Mar 11 2025 19:19 utc | 46
That Russia’s Special Forces walked 12km through a gas pipeline ...
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 11 2025 17:57 utc | 4
**********
Remember that the pipeline(s) is/are 1.4m (4'6") diameter. Only Sean the Leprechaun and his wee folk followers could "walk" this pipeline. Find a 1.5m drainpipe under a road and try walking through it. Then find a wheelbarrow and push it 20-30m through the pipe. Then repeat that 500 times. After that easy practice run, load the barrow up nice and full and heavy and repeat.
Oh, and then find a few hundred soldiers from any western army in the world to repeat this task. And make sure that their wheelbarrows are loaded with equipment and ammunition and food and first-aid supplies.
Hats off, and a deep bow, to the heroes who devised, planned, and executed this audacious raid.
Posted by: General Factotum | Mar 11 2025 19:23 utc | 47
8 - Not visible by satellite or drones, a big advantage nowadays.
In the early 1950s the USA and Allies did use a tunnel under East Berlin to observe Soviet etc. radio and telephone calls. The tunnel was given away by George Blake.
Posted by: Waldorf | Mar 11 2025 19:24 utc | 48
Reports on Telegram of British and US regulars and Intel types caught behind the new lines.
So serious is the situation that Trump has resumed arms and intel to Ukraine to enable them to get out.
We shall see.......
Posted by: Harry 5 | Mar 11 2025 19:26 utc | 49
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Mar 11 2025 19:28 utc | 50
Meanwhile oil pipeline Druzhba monitoring measuring oil station destroyed by Ukraine
drones. Hungary complains that EU cannot protect vital infrastructure.Presume self harming EU will let their Ukraine baby continue to have tantrums without a spanking.
declassified org UK has good article of the UK involvement last few years re Ukraine earth minerals...been ongoing a while surprisingly.....UK has none so to speak hence their separation snatching it from EU and USA?
Posted by: Jo | Mar 11 2025 19:30 utc | 51
What is puzzling is watching an administration which has already paid most of the political costs of dropping this particular tar baby going back to it. Now they will own it to the end.Posted by: Satepestage | Mar 11 2025 18:52 utc | 26
Indeed it is difficult to see what advantage the Trump administration gains from this move. Is it just about gaining access to the mineral rights, about which there is conflicting information as to their viability (or even existence)?
Perhaps it is yet to dawn on the US side quite how weak their hand actually is; if and when the penny finally drops there will be an extremely loud and echoing clang!
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 11 2025 19:34 utc | 52
The pipeline attack is similar in sentiment to the Montrose night march to outflank the Campbells at Inverlochy during the war of three kingdoms or the outflanking of the Spartans at Thermopylae.
Posted by: Cavery | Mar 11 2025 19:35 utc | 53
19 - Condescension. The Russians are supposedly inferior etc.
It is of course dangerous to under-estimate your foe. A problem I have with Martyanov's site is that it is often one long rant about how the USA etc are inferior intellectually etc. etc. I sometimes think Martyanov is tolerated despite living in the USA because he fosters complacency.
Posted by: Waldorf | Mar 11 2025 19:36 utc | 54
In the early 1950s the USA and Allies did use a tunnel under East Berlin to observe Soviet etc. radio and telephone calls. The tunnel was given away by George Blake.Posted by: Waldorf | Mar 11 2025 19:24 utc | 48
Thanks for that note, interesting bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Blake
Much less well known than the Cambridge lot.
Posted by: pessoa | Mar 11 2025 19:38 utc | 55
Patroklos | 45
...give them a name: Pied Pipers.
Or maybe the Peed Pipers - what was done with the 48 hours worth of urine and excrement x 800 troops I wonder?
Posted by: dontflayme | Mar 11 2025 19:39 utc | 56
Posted by: pyrrhus | Mar 11 2025 17:55 utc | 2
Oh yeah, it's redolent of Dickson's Tactics of Mistake. And so was the Russian Federation military accepting the seeming embarrassment of having the AFU remain in Kursk after their incursion into it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactics_of_Mistake
The heart of his military strategy, based in part on fencing, is what he labels the "tactics of mistake," enticing one's opponent into overreaching, and being ready to take advantage of the mistake. This description is an adaptation of a similar concept in the novel Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini when the character Moreau studies at the salon of the Master of Arms.
I see, as do others, this novel as written during the time when General Semantics had an influence on the genre. Dune, Heinlein's Gulf, Babel-17, The World of Null-A, and so on, all featured protagonists who could think more efficiently and in new ways.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_semantics#Connections_to_other_disciplines
Huh, I just now learned the "daddy" of it all was born it what was at the time the Russian empire. :) And he went on to serve as an intelligence officer in the Russian army.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Korzybski
Posted by: Babel-17 | Mar 11 2025 19:46 utc | 57
Let's bet, barflies! Will Putin accept the ceasefire or not?
I see no arguments for refusing it. On the other hand, if he accepts it, the enemy will become more prepared!?
Posted by: Elber | Mar 11 2025 19:46 utc | 58
How do we even know that US supplies and support even RESUMED at all? Why could they not have never stopped in the first place?
Part of me might even be happy about it. Nothing is eroding Western power as quickly as this ukrainian folly.
Posted by: Roland | Mar 11 2025 19:47 utc | 59
B: This operation is one for the books.
And for a movie.
But not done in Hollywood.
Posted by: Naive | Mar 11 2025 19:48 utc | 60
Posted by: Elber | Mar 11 2025 19:46 utc | 58
Stupid question. You are blind.
Posted by: Naive | Mar 11 2025 19:49 utc | 61
Preseuambly, this ceasefire will have to be montiored by the British and Frnech troops mentioned before - according to Trump Putin was ok with that, so I assume the Yankees will expect that to be part of their ceasefire requirement?
Posted by: Night Tripper | Mar 11 2025 19:50 utc | 62
Posted by: Night Tripper | Mar 11 2025 19:50 utc | 62
Only the wastern morons are speaking of a ceasefire.
Posted by: Naive | Mar 11 2025 19:54 utc | 63
If you're not sure if you are claustrophobic this is a surefire way to find out.
@ dontflayme | Mar 11 2025 18:52 utc | 25
I'm reminded of Jean Valjean's climactic flight through Parisian sewers, in Les Miserables. Victor Hugo on the RF general staff, for narrative engineering.
Posted by: Aleph_Null | Mar 11 2025 19:54 utc | 64
Elber @ 58
Let's bet, barflies! Will Putin accept the ceasefire or not? I see no arguments for refusing it. On the other hand, if he accepts it, the enemy will become more prepared!?
It's a conundrum, where's vargas when you need him?
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 11 2025 19:54 utc | 65
Troops suddenly finding that enemy soldiers are behind them or on a flank is one of the most demoralising phenomena possible in warfare.
Posted by: Waldorf | Mar 11 2025 19:54 utc | 66
Indeed it is difficult to see what advantage the Trump administration gains from this move. Is it just about gaining access to the mineral rights, about which there is conflicting information as to their viability (or even existence)?
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 11 2025 19:34 utc | 52
Simplest explanation would be that they are trying to accomplish exactly what they have stated they are trying to accomplish. Except it is unlikely to work of course.
Posted by: Satepestage | Mar 11 2025 19:58 utc | 67
The pipeline attack is similar in sentiment to the Montrose night march to outflank the Campbells at Inverlochy during the war of three kingdoms or the outflanking of the Spartans at Thermopylae.
Posted by: Cavery | Mar 11 2025 19:35 utc | 53
To travel inside a tube 1,4 m high for 15 km has nothing similar in history, sentiment or not.
Posted by: Naive | Mar 11 2025 20:00 utc | 68
Unless Russia captures and incorporates Kharkov and Odessa into a separate and distinct country, nation or entity, and completely encircles Kyiv, which will essentially land lock Ukraine and, thus, force the political and economical collapse of Ukraine, Russia will have, at best, achieved a Pyrrhic victory.
Moreover, without such a military and political result, the Special Military Operation (S.M.O.) will not and cannot end.
“War is a matter not so much of arms as of money.”
― Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War
Thucydides,
460 B.C.E. – 400 B.C.E.
“Right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.”
― Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”
Socrates, 470 B.C.E. - 399 B.C.E.
dennis hanna
[ I first posted this within 30 days of the start of Russia's Special Military Operation. I suggest it is truer today. Why? For reasons including, but not limited to, Nazis or so-called "Neo Nazis in Ukraine" the C.I.A., what agreements did, do or will the United States follow, for how long, for how many "U.S. Presidents" (U.S. agreements with the so-called "Indians"), et cetera. ]
Posted by: Dennis Hanna | Mar 11 2025 20:01 utc | 69
Only the wastern morons are speaking of a ceasefire.
Posted by: Naive | Mar 11 2025 19:54 utc | 63
Indeed, I am just confirming that the whole thing is ridiculous and Putin will laught it out of hand.
Posted by: Night Tripper | Mar 11 2025 20:02 utc | 71
55 - I have read a biography of him entitled The Happy Traitor. The title chosen because on escaping a British prison he adjusted well to life in the Soviet Union, whereas people like Burgess and Philby did rather less well. Blake was of Dutch/Egyptian background and was half-Jewish. He was never a member of the British establishment, so he has not been written about so much.
Posted by: Waldorf | Mar 11 2025 20:07 utc | 72
Dear B,
I've read somewhere online that the commander of this pipeline operation was Apti Alauddinov. He is from Chechnya.
Posted by: Refinnejenna | Mar 11 2025 20:09 utc | 73
I wrote a previous comment about the pipeline method. It's not quite sure if they marched 16km completely blinded and not knowing what lies aheas. I personally think than only Superman can go 16 km with head bent down and 20-30kg of backpack. Let's not fool ouserlf. They probably advanced 1km, then drilled some hole above to allow air to enter. It was much smarter to use carts and electric scoters with small seats to advance. next time, maybe the generals will read this comment.
Posted by: Gabriel | Mar 11 2025 20:10 utc | 74
Posted by: Night Tripper | Mar 11 2025 19:50 utc | 62
France and UK have already apparently pre-positioned their would-be peacekeepers across Ukrainian hotels, which Russia has been blowing up regularly.
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 11 2025 20:11 utc | 75
"However, just not the USA is back in the fight by resuming military aid and intelligence to Ukraine.
More aid seems like a weird way to stage manage their defeat.
Posted by: too scents | Mar 11 2025 18:41 utc | 18"
The popping of the financial asset bubble that the USA clearly intends to enact is so obvious that markets are beginning to crash earlier than scheduled. More war will take attention away from the evaporation of wealth.
Posted by: SB | Mar 11 2025 20:12 utc | 76
The SMO ends with NATO back behind the Elbe as promised "not one inch foreword"
B. thanks for your old school journalism. Hut ab !
Posted by: exile | Mar 11 2025 20:14 utc | 77
Waldorf. If i was soldier i would always have enemy soldiers behind. Hopefully a good few miles behind me as i ran for home.
Posted by: Cavery | Mar 11 2025 20:14 utc | 78
Zelenskyy has quietly agreed to accept Trump's terms, and now Trump's hands are clean in the eyes of the war mongers in the EU and the MIC by announcing what he just did.
The devil is in the details however, and without Kursk and with his military retreating and in a death spiral the "bad hand" of Zelenskyy that Trump referred to has gotten significantly worse. Russia can afford a waiting game now. I expect Putin to ignore calls for a ceasefire but to not outright refuse the idea of eventually doing a deal, and instead to just keep playing out the string of being open to an arrangement while all the while the AFU is getting wrecked on the battlefield.
The tide of the war has changed. Trump knows it, and because the Zelenskyy regime can sense its impending doom he's using their failures to extort Ukraine's last remaining resources out of them. What European leaders want to happen, need to happen, insist on happening, is largely irrelevant at this point.
“The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote.”
It's pathetic, and this caving in to Trump might cost Zelenskyy and his people their lives if Russia doesn't appear equally cowed by Trump and meekly cease operations and come to to the table for a peace deal. Putin and the Russian Federation establishment won't come to the table, and before long it could be clear that Trump has drunk Zelenskyy's milkshake. ;)
Posted by: Babel-17 | Mar 11 2025 20:18 utc | 79
Naive @ 63
Only the wastern morons are speaking of a ceasefire.
It's intentionally one way because it's not diplomacy, it's an ultimatum, but even then an impossible one, the question then is, what's the point of that? Are they all just crazy or stupid? They are not, see my post above about a poison chalice.
It'll be extremely interesting to see how the Russians refuse it, but refuse it they will, and the west in a manufactured msm chorus, will say, see, we offered parley, we set down our swords (blocked arms shipments, shut down ISR) offered to break bread and drink wine with them, make reasoned discourse, find a pragmatic way out - and the barbarians just grunted and stomped and threw the chalice in our face.
Meanwhile back on the home front, the battle cry for the EU has been getting prepared, "the barbarians know only war, and so they'll have war". That's been the contrapuntal line sung by Starmer, Macron, and von der Leyen for the last six weeks, but it's all one opera.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 11 2025 20:19 utc | 80
Very nice.
Lol yes DunGroanin the "Ukrainians" should fill their toilets with bricks ;)
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It's not unusual for some details to be wrong or missing, it seems to happen a lot when going back and forth between Russian and English (although the lack of quality or proofreading is a little bit disconcerting). Still I don't worry too much about it nor can I fix it.
· · · · · · ·
Btw the "Ukrainians" are extremely stupid to attack Moskva/Moscow because doing so validates everything Russia has said about their security concerns vis-a-vis "Ukraine" and legitimizes everything Russia has done/does/will do and that it is an existential issue for Russia (because if drones can reach then anything can).
...and no one will hear that point of view from "the west" which in turn also proves that all one gets from western media is 100% manufactured narrative to the best of their ability (which can be shockingly poor; there isn't always "a memo" and there's a lot they never think about) and propaganda continually filtered and twisted into whatever they think suits them best.
That certainly includes certain kinds of "happy stories" one might come across.
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One general thing: long duration cramped underground warfare isn't new and some of that was much more cramped than this.
If nothing else then in the Viet Nam war, but some of the WWI underground fighting comes very close to Viet Nam if not even worse and was much deeper than these pipes. Possibly some WWII fighting or sabotage raids too, I'm unsure but I seem to remember the British-Norwegian nuclear one somehow used some pipes? I could very easily be wrong so feel free to correct that :)
Anyhow using an existing "big" pipeline like this one and in this manner for this many people really is new as far as I know.
Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Mar 11 2025 20:21 utc | 82
78 - It may not be true but there is a story dating from Marlon Brando's time in a military academy in his youth. He was asked what he would do if he found his commanding officer dead on the field of battle. Brando replied, "Run like hell," and was promptly expelled.
On the other hand, the ancient Greek poet Anacreon wrote of his own encounter:
"Some lucky Thracian has my noble shield. I had to run, I lost it in a wood. But I got clean away, thank God. So damn the shield, I'll get another just as good." Not a Spartan you see. But Anacreon enjoyed life...
Posted by: Waldorf | Mar 11 2025 20:22 utc | 83
Interesting post on worldwide ammunition supplies and the Ukraine war. It doesn't look good for the west. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zotdCt85yX8
Posted by: HB_Norica | Mar 11 2025 20:22 utc | 84
Putin won’t agree to a ceasefire, at least not yet. But it was important to make Ukraine bend the knee and agree to/ask for one.
Posted by: CullenBaker | Mar 11 2025 20:26 utc | 85
OK, so let’s have a catchy name for the “ceasefire” and the deployment of “peacekeepers”...
How does “Operation Warp Speed” sound?...
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 11 2025 20:29 utc | 86
Refinnejenna @ 73
I've read somewhere online that the commander of this pipeline operation was Apti Alauddinov. He is from Chechnya.
Not Alaudinov
...the former commander of the Wagner Group talks about Operation Potok.
The former commander of the 3rd assault squad of the Wagner PMC "Zombie" - Hero of Russia, holder of six (!) Orders of Courage, participant in operations in Syria, the Central African Republic and the North Caucasus Military District, and now the commander of the Vostok DRShB...
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/121492operation in the Kursk region.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 11 2025 20:30 utc | 87
@45
I wasn’t there to see it, but I hear Rustem Umerov like a little girl when they took him away.
Zelensky had no intention of going that quietly.
I like to think the last thing that went through his head…other than that bullet…was to wonder how the hell Vladimir Putin ever got the best of him.
Posted by: Fred777 | Mar 11 2025 20:31 utc | 88
Putin won’t agree to a ceasefire, at least not yet. But it was important to make Ukraine bend the knee and agree to/ask for one.
Posted by: CullenBaker | Mar 11 2025 20:26 utc | 85
Where has the Ukraine bended knee? Zelensky didn't even apologize (unless you believe the bullshit about the letter) and Trump has folded to Ukraine's demands and now owns this war.
"If Russia doesn’t agree to a ceasefire, we will just keep fighting and supplying Ukraine." - Trump
Posted by: 5thcolumn | Mar 11 2025 20:31 utc | 89
But it was important to make Ukraine bend the knee and agree to/ask for one.
Posted by: CullenBaker | Mar 11 2025 20:26 utc | 85
the question is, will zelenskiyviyijjiywhatever revert his law that prohibits anyone in the ukraine to negotiate with russia? can he even do this as a non-president?
Posted by: Justpassinby | Mar 11 2025 20:34 utc | 90
The tide of the war has changed. Trump knows it, and because the Zelenskyy regime can sense its impending doom he's using their failures to extort Ukraine's last remaining resources out of them. What European leaders want to happen, need to happen, insist on happening, is largely irrelevant at this point.
Posted by: Babel-17 | Mar 11 2025 20:18 utc | 79
In order to extort resources from Ukraine he has to make sure that there is still an Ukraine subject to american demands.
IOW he has just committed to supporting Ukraine as far as possible.
Posted by: Satepestage | Mar 11 2025 20:34 utc | 91
Zelenskyy has quietly agreed to accept Trump's terms, and now Trump's hands are clean in the eyes of the war mongers in the EU and the MIC by announcing what he just did.
Babel-17 | Mar 11 2025 20:18 utc | 79
He's the same. The "ceasefire" is a very simple trick: Trump pretends to try hard to make Zeli, his own actor, accept a ceasefire. Then he says Zeli wants peace and if Putin does not surrender right now it means he doesn't want peace so even more weapons and infinite money for Ukr. Not that it ever was less, but it makes his voters happy thinking their guy is killing more Russians than that Biden guy did. Also the drone attack last night was most likely Trump's idea to make Putin more willing to accept his conditions he already knew he'll offer today. You will have no surprises if you remember Zeli and his gang are actors with no free will. What they say and do is written by US and Nato
Posted by: rk | Mar 11 2025 20:36 utc | 92
The popping of the financial asset bubble that the USA clearly intends to enact
Posted by: SB | Mar 11 2025 20:12 utc | 76
---
You think they're gonna grab that tiger by the tail?
I think they're losing their grip.
Posted by: too scents | Mar 11 2025 20:38 utc | 93
Another Nato weapon shipment along with the cargo ship just went bada boom in Odessa port.
https://x.com/MenchOsint/status/1899556695417704958
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 11 2025 20:40 utc | 94
Putin has stated a ceasefire can start once ukraine leaves all of the annexed territories.
We don't know what ukraine is willing to sacrifice territory wise but I don't see them doing that.
And the US always tries a ceasefire when things aren't going well, it's actually a good sign to press the attack. I'm sure Russia knows this but what can happen? Damn near anything but if they pause on current lines they're gonna regret it later I'm sure. We'll see how much they've learned.
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Mar 11 2025 20:40 utc | 95
This entire pipeline event reminds me about things I have read about the Red army in Stalingrad. That was of course much shorter and about sewer fighting, but hats off to the worlds best and grittiest warriors who could teach the best of Roman legions at their prime a thing or two.
Posted by: NorwegianPawn | Mar 11 2025 20:41 utc | 96
"If Russia doesn’t agree to a ceasefire, we will just keep fighting and supplying Ukraine." - Trump
Posted by: 5thcolumn | Mar 11 2025 20:31 utc | 89
And Ukraine and the west will keep loosing bad.
Unless something changes there is no reason to believe that something will change for the better for the west.
Posted by: Mario | Mar 11 2025 20:45 utc | 97
Putin has stated a ceasefire can start once ukraine leaves all of the annexed territories.
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Mar 11 2025 20:40 utc | 95
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Surely there is more to it than that.
Can you please reference your assertion.
Posted by: too scents | Mar 11 2025 20:48 utc | 98
Not many of you understand negotiating or mediating a case. If Ukraine is serious agreeing to a ceasefire is an important psychological barrier. Now, Trump and company can go to Russia and Russia can refuse while saying what it wants to ever even possibly consider such a thing. It probably will be something all the territory it wants, neutrality, elections, no NATO ever, and peacekeepers from some nonaligned nation. India would be a good choice. Friendly with both the US and Russia right now and wanting a bigger role on the world stage.
Trump will go back and get Zelensky to agree to most if not all of that and Zelensky will be allowed to go live with much of his stolen billions and the Euros will cry in the corner.
Posted by: CullenBaker | Mar 11 2025 20:48 utc | 99
Reports on Telegram of British and US regulars and Intel types caught behind the new lines.
Posted by: Harry 5 | Mar 11 2025 19:26 utc | 49
Very funny if true. It is of course quite possible.
Wondering if there are still trumptards at the bar...
Posted by: Naive | Mar 11 2025 20:48 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
Pipe dream
Posted by: Sharp elbows | Mar 11 2025 17:53 utc | 1