Satellite images reveal destruction at Sudzha gas station in Kursk Oblast

Some of the damage to the gas metering station appeared between Aug. 9 and 10, and some between Aug. 10 and 11.

The photo of Aug. 11 shows that one of the administrative buildings of the station and one of the sites where the measuring equipment is installed were almost completely destroyed.

On Aug. 8, The Washington Post reported, citing an "adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy," that Ukraine allegedly taken control of the Sudzha gas metering station in Kursk Oblast.

Russian Gazprom claimed that it continued to supply gas to Europe through the Sudzha station.

The Sudzha station is the last operating transshipment point for Russian natural gas through Ukraine to Europe. In 2023, the Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhhorod pipeline pumped about 14.65 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe. This is about half of Russia's natural gas exports.

Kursk Oblast raid

On Aug. 6, Russian propagandists claimed that Ukrainian forces had allegedly penetrated the Sudzha district of Kursk Oblast.

The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed fighting in Oblast. Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov claimed that Ukraine had supposedly entered with about 1,000 troops, using Western Stryker armored vehicles and tanks, as well as UAVs, air defense systems, and electronic warfare means.

Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on these events.

Russian local news outlets on Aug. 8 claimed that the fighting in Kursk Oblast was seen approximately 26 kilometers from the border. The Washington Post, citing “a presidential advisor to Volodymyr Zelenskyy,” reported that Ukraine had allegedly taken control of the Sudzha gas measurement station in Kursk Oblast.

Kurschatov Mayor Ihor Korpunkov on Aug. 9 stated that the fighting was taking place several dozen kilometers from the city, where the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant is located.

In response to these events, Russia introduced a so-called “counter-terrorism operation” regime in Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod Oblasts. This includes monitoring telephone conversations and other information.

Politico reported that Germany and other Ukrainian allies had previously been reluctant to allow Kyiv to attack Russia, but recent events in Kursk Oblast may change this approach.

Video was posted online showing more than ten pieces of burnt-out Russian military equipment, mostly trucks, as well as the bodies of soldiers on Aug. 9. Later, the Russian department of the BBC Verify service confirmed that the video of the defeated column of Russian equipment was filmed near the village of Oktyabrskoye, near Rylsk, Kursk Oblast.

Yuriy Butusov, editor-in-chief of Censor.net on Aug. 10 said with reference to the Khorne Group unit of the 116th Separate Mechanized Brigade that 490 "downed Tango's" were counted in the broken column.

Acting governor of Kursk Oblast, Aleksey Smirnov on Aug. 11 said that a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group had allegedly entered the territory of Bilovsk district, which borders Sumy Oblast. According to the BBC, Ukrainian troops may have advanced 30 kilometers into Russia.