A massive fire broke out overnight at a key gas transit hub in Russia’s Kursk region, according to media reports.
The blaze at the facility in Sudzha, a town that was until recently under Ukrainian control, was caused by an attack by Kyiv’s forces, according to Russian Telegram news channels.
There has been no official confirmation of the incident.
Footage allegedly showing the gas metering station in flames has been circulating online, with Russian sources claiming the fire was visible from the border between Kursk and Ukraine’s Sumy region.
The Sudzha station was a crucial part of Russia’s gas export network to Europe.
It was the last remaining processing point for exporting gas to Ukraine and then on to Central Europe until January of this year, when Kyiv opted against renewing its contract to carry Russian gas.
Ukraine and Russia have agreed to a U.S. proposal for a limited ceasefire to prevent attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure, but such assaults have continued, according to recent reports.
The area around Sudzha was seized by Ukraine in its surprise incursion into mainland Russia last summer, but Russian forces have recently regained ground in the region.
Military officials in Moscow said last week they had recaptured Sudzha and analysis by the Institute for the Study of War suggests that Ukraine has now been forced back to pockets of territory adjacent to the countries’ permanent border.
There has been no official confirmation of the incident.
Footage allegedly showing the gas metering station in flames has been circulating online, with Russian sources claiming the fire was visible from the border between Kursk and Ukraine’s Sumy region.
The Sudzha station was a crucial part of Russia’s gas export network to Europe.
It was the last remaining processing point for exporting gas to Ukraine and then on to Central Europe until January of this year, when Kyiv opted against renewing its contract to carry Russian gas.
Ukraine and Russia have agreed to a U.S. proposal for a limited ceasefire to prevent attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure, but such assaults have continued, according to recent reports.
The area around Sudzha was seized by Ukraine in its surprise incursion into mainland Russia last summer, but Russian forces have recently regained ground in the region.
Military officials in Moscow said last week they had recaptured Sudzha and analysis by the Institute for the Study of War suggests that Ukraine has now been forced back to pockets of territory adjacent to the countries’ permanent border.
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