Ukraine seizes Russian city and cuts off gas supply

In a surprising turn of events, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces have taken control of Sudzha, a Russian town located 105 km southwest of Kursk. This comes after a week of cross-border incursion into Russia's Kursk region by Ukrainian forces. According to reports, the Ukrainian army has advanced 35 kilometers through Russian defenses, capturing a significant area of ​​1150 square kilometers and 82 settlements.

The strategic city of Sudzha, located next to a Russian gas terminal, is a crucial point for the supply of gas from Russia to Europe via Ukraine. This has led to speculation that Ukraine's aim could be to disrupt an important source of Moscow's revenue. The Ukrainian incursion has displaced tens of thousands of Russians and put Russia on the defensive.

In the biggest drone strike of the conflict, Ukrainian drones targeted four Russian airfields on Wednesday. Russia's defense ministry said it destroyed 117 “aircraft-type” drones and four tactical missiles over Kursk and neighboring regions in response.

This bold move by Ukraine marks a major change in tactics, marking the first time foreign troops have entered Russian territory since World War II. This has put the Kremlin in an embarrassing position, forcing Russia to pull reserves from key battleground areas in Ukraine and Russian-occupied Crimea to counter Kiev's advances.

In a recent update, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to have recaptured the first village from Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region. Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to “drive the enemy” out of Russia after it was revealed that numerous Russian villages were under Ukrainian control.

Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to face challenges on the eastern front, where Russian forces have been making steady gains for months. On Thursday, Ukraine reported heavy fighting near the eastern city of Pokrovsk. The head of the military administration of the city of Pokrovsk urged citizens to “evacuate without delay”, stating that the enemy was within 6 miles of the city.