Russian troops have breached a Ukrainian defensive line near Sudzha in the Kursk region, intensifying pressure on Ukrainian forces operating near the border and threatening a critical supply route used by Kyiv's forces.
According to reports from the Ukrainian military and the open-source platform DeepState, the breakthrough occurred south of Sudzha, in the vicinity of Kurylivka, where Ukrainian positions had already been gradually weakened over several weeks.
"There was a breakthrough of the Ukrainian blockade area," a Ukrainian military source operating in the region told Ukrainska Pravda. "Our units are trying to contain the enemy to avoid the risk of partial or complete encirclement."
The advance was not a sudden assault, but a deliberate and sustained effort.
Russian troops reportedly entered Kurylivka before the New Year, after a Ukrainian brigade withdrew. Since then, Moscow has systematically reinforced its position and carried out coordinated assault operations, culminating in a successful penetration on March 5–6.
Strategic Route at Risk
Military analysts believe the aim of the Russian advance is to secure a new southern approach to the Sumy–Yunakivka–Sudzha road, a vital logistical corridor for Ukrainian forces in the area.
By threatening this route from both north and south, Russian forces could effectively cut off Ukrainian units stationed in the region.
According to DeepState, Russian forces had already attempted to advance on the road from the north in late February, pushing near the village of Novenke.
"Now we are trying to stabilize the situation so that the enemy cannot completely close the communication routes," the Ukrainian defense source added.
Escalation Across the Border Region
This latest development adds to a growing pattern of Russian offensives along the Kharkiv–Kursk axis.
On March 7, the DeepState project also reported Russian troop movements in both Kurylivka (Kursk region) and Figolivka (Kharkiv region), indicating a broader effort to push Ukrainian forces back across the border.
On March 2, DeepState warned of a deteriorating situation in the area, criticizing the Ukrainian side for not taking sufficient countermeasures as Russian forces increased pressure on key logistics routes.
Ukrainian forces are now racing to reinforce positions and prevent further Russian advances that could result in operational encirclement.
