• Russian special forces executed Operation Potok, marching 800 soldiers through an abandoned Soviet-era gas pipeline to ambush Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region, marking a dramatic shift in the conflict dynamics.
• The operation involved meticulous planning, including oxygen pumping, creating assembly rooms and stockpiling supplies, with soldiers crawling 15 kilometers in darkness over four days to emerge near Sudzha, catching Ukrainian forces off guard.
• The operation has reclaimed significant territory in Kursk, nearly encircling Ukrainian forces and forcing them into retreat, with Russian troops liberating key settlements and tightening their grip on the region.
• This unprecedented use of pipelines for military infiltration highlights Russian adaptability and resilience, echoing smaller-scale tactics used earlier in the war, while dealing a severe blow to Ukraine’s already strained military.
• The operation underscores Russia’s determination to reclaim territory and assert dominance, amid Ukraine’s growing isolation due to reduced international support, raising questions about the war’s future and the potential for a negotiated settlement.

In a stunning display of ingenuity and audacity, Russian special forces executed one of the most unconventional military operations in modern history, marching 800 soldiers through an abandoned gas pipeline to ambush Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region. The operation, dubbed Operation Potok (Flow), has shifted the dynamics of the conflict, forcing Ukrainian forces into retreat and raising questions about the future of the war.

Pipeline gambit: A desperate move or a stroke of genius?

The operation began in early March 2025, when Russian forces utilized the Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod pipeline, a Soviet-era gas conduit that once transported Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine. After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky halted gas transit in January 2025, the pipeline lay dormant — until Russian military planners saw an opportunity.

According to pro-Russian Telegram channels, the operation involved meticulous preparation. Oxygen was pumped into the pipeline to make it habitable, while diggers carved out assembly rooms and installed toilets. Supplies, including water, food and ammunition, were stockpiled along the route. Over four days, 800 soldiers crawled through the 1.4-meter-wide pipe, covering more than 15 kilometers (9 miles) in complete darkness.

“We burst out unexpectedly, like demons — black, dirty and exhausted. But we pressed on,” said a Russian soldier with the call sign Mowgli. The troops emerged near Sudzha, a key industrial zone in Kursk, catching Ukrainian forces off guard and triggering panic.

Turning point in the Kursk campaign

The pipeline operation marked a dramatic shift in the battle for Kursk, a region Ukrainian forces had seized in August 2024 as part of a broader strategy to gain leverage in peace negotiations. However, the Russian counteroffensive has since reclaimed significant territory, with open-source maps showing Ukrainian forces nearly encircled.

“The lid of the smoking cauldron is almost closed,” former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev declared on Telegram. “The offensive continues.”

Ukrainian officials initially claimed to have repelled the pipeline assault, but reports from the ground suggest otherwise. Russian forces have liberated multiple settlements, including Cherkasskoye Porechnoe and Malaya Loknya, and are now tightening their grip on Sudzha.

Historical echoes and strategic implications

This operation is not the first time Russian forces have used pipelines for military purposes. In January 2024, scouts and the Veterany unit employed a similar tactic to infiltrate Ukrainian positions near Avdeevka in the Donetsk region. However, the scale and complexity of the Kursk operation are unprecedented.

The success of Operation Potok underscores the resilience and adaptability of Russian forces, even under harsh conditions. “Our job is to go anywhere and at any time,” said a soldier with the call sign Medved (Bear). “We had to push ourselves beyond our limits.”

For Ukraine, the operation is a devastating blow. The Ukrainian military, already stretched thin and facing exhaustion, now confronts the prospect of losing Kursk entirely. “Units are taking timely measures to maneuver to favorable defense lines,” admitted General Aleksandr Syrsky, commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

Broader context: A war of attrition

The pipeline operation comes amid growing international pressure to end the conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump’s suspension of military aid to Ukraine and his acrimonious meeting with Zelensky in February 2025 have left Kyiv increasingly isolated. Meanwhile, European leaders fear that Ukraine’s defeat could embolden Russia and destabilize the region.

For Russia, the operation is a testament to its determination to reclaim lost territory and assert its dominance. “I am surprised by people who really think that Russia could lose,” said Maj.-Gen. Apti Alaudinov, commander of Chechnya’s Akhmat special forces. “It is a good day.”

As the war enters its fourth year, the pipeline operation serves as a stark reminder of the lengths to which both sides are willing to go. For Ukraine, it is a call to reassess its strategy and seek a negotiated settlement. For Russia, it is a symbol of its resolve and resourcefulness.

In the end, the Great Gas Pipeline Caper may be remembered not just as a tactical victory, but as a turning point in a conflict that has reshaped the geopolitical landscape of Europe.

Sources include:

Substack.com

CBC.ca

RT.com