Russia Gaining Ground In Kursk As Ukraine’s Forces Lack CIA Intelligence

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

MOSCOW/KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – U.S. intelligence-starved Ukrainian forces suffered another setback Sunday as Russian troops walked inside a natural gas pipeline to strike Ukrainian units from the rear in Russia’s Kursk region, Ukraine’s military and Russian sources said.

Ukraine’s army had captured 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of Russia’s territory in the Kursk region, including the strategic border town of Sudzha, to use as a bargaining chip in future peace negotiations.

Kyiv also took hundreds of Russian prisoners of war.

Yet after U.S. President Donald J. Trump ordered an end to sharing U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) information with Kyiv, such as satellite footage, Ukrainian forces have suffered setbacks.

The pipeline, which was used until late last year to transport gas through Ukraine to Europe, has a diameter of 1.4 meters (4.7 feet) in Sudzha, a border town between Russia and Ukraine

Ukraine recaptured Sudzha and part of the Kursk region in August, hoping to use the territory as leverage in future peace negotiations. However, Moscow is working to regain control, and Russian forces are slowly reclaiming ground.

According to Russian military sources, the pipeline maneuver was part of a larger offensive near Sudzha, where heavy fighting is currently underway.

‘ATTACK REPELLED’

However, Kyiv still claimed Sunday that the Russians were “spotted in time,” and the attack was repelled.

Additionally, several areas in Ukraine were hit by Russian missiles and drones in recent days, including the southeastern home city of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where numerous people died and numerous were injured.

European Union leaders have reacted with outrage to the latest Russian attacks on Ukraine. “Putin is once again showing that he has no interest in peace,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on social media platform X. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called it a tragic night for Ukraine, adding: “This is what happens when you appease barbarians. More bombs, more aggression, more victims.”

Ukrainian authorities said at least 34 people have been killed and dozens wounded in attacks over the weekend.

The hardest-hit area appears to be Dobropillia, in eastern Ukraine, which was struck by missiles and drones. Among the casualties were five children, officials said.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy condemned the strikes on X, saying: “These attacks prove that Russia’s objectives remain unchanged. That’s why it is crucial to continue protecting lives, strengthening our air defense, and tightening sanctions against Russia.”

Overnight, Russia launched heavy missile strikes on the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, killing at least 20 people and injuring many others, according to Ukrainian sources.

BUILDINGS DAMAGED

Several buildings, including residential and office complexes, were severely damaged. A day earlier, Russia had launched around 100 drones and dozens of missiles, primarily targeting infrastructure and energy facilities.

Those attacks reportedly killed some 14 people.

The bloodshed came while Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that its forces had captured a village in the southern part of eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, claiming control over the settlement of Konstyantynopil.

Earlier, the ministry reported that Russian troops had seized a village in Russia’s Kursk region and another in Ukraine’s Sumy region.

On Sunday, Russia also said it took control of Novenke, a small village in the Sumy region near the Kursk border, which the defense ministry described as “liberated.”

There was concern that Ukraine would suffer more losses without American support.

However, U.S. President Trump said Sunday that Zelenskyy has to show more appreciation if he wants Washington’s support.

NOT GRATEFUL

Trump told broadcaster Fox News on Sunday that Zelenskyy was not “grateful” enough for the previous U.S. support in the war against Russia.

“He’s a smart guy, and he’s a tough guy,” Trump said about Zelenskyy. “He got money from our country, under [Joe] Biden, like taking candy from a baby. That’s how easy it was.”

When asked about U.S. relations with Moscow, Trump said, “No one has been tougher on Russia than Donald Trump. (…) Remember, I was the one who stopped the pipeline – Nord Stream 2.”

Trump was also asked whether he felt comfortable with the fact that he had cut off aid to Ukraine and that the country might not survive as a result.

“Well, maybe it [Ukraine] won’t survive anyway,” Trump replied about a war that is believed to have killed and injured one million people.

The president’s decision to suspend military aid and intelligence came after last week’s unprecedented quarrel between Trump and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office of the White House over the war.

After the verbal clash, Ukraine’s opposition leaders confirmed they had talks with members of Trump’s entourage. Yet they denied being part of a reported White House plot to remove Zelenskyy from power.

Despite the dispute, officials expect a minerals deal to be signed between the U.S. and Ukraine after talks in Saudi Arabia and that intelligence sharing with Kyiv will resume.

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