Butusov wrote on Facebook on March 8 that Russian troops had used a gas pipeline to approach Ukrainian positions in Sudzha in Kursk Oblast. He added that the troops are being "liquidated."

The repositioning could be a prelude to a complete Ukrainian withdrawal from Kursk back to the relative safety of northern Ukraine. Shrugging off at least one raid by a Ukrainian

"Difficult battles continue in the border area of Sumy Oblast, Russian assault units are attempting to breakthrough and move toward a highway from Yunakivka to Sudzha in Kursk Oblast," said Andrii Kovalenko,