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.
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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.