Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced today that Ukrainian units have established full control over the city of Suja in Russia's Kursk region, the Associated Press reported.
The town with a population of about 5,000 people is located about 10 km from the border with Ukraine. It is the center of Sudjan district.
The city was founded in the 17th century after a battle between Russia and Poland and flourished in the 19th century when it became famous for its ceramics.
Suja suffered extensive damage during fighting between the Soviet Army and Nazi troops in World War II, but was later rebuilt.
Natural gas flowing from West Siberian gas fields to Europe through Ukraine passes through the measuring station near the border of Suzhansky district.
Despite the war with Ukraine, which has been going on for two and a half years now, Russian gas still continues to flow to Europe, from which the gas giant “Gazprom“ continues to earn, and Ukraine collects transit fees.
Ukrainian forces entered Suja after invading Russian territory on August 6, meeting little resistance from lightly armed border patrols and small infantry units stationed along the border. Ukrainian troops met more resistance in Suja, where fighting continued until today, before President Zelensky announced that Ukraine had established full control of the city.
Ukrainian authorities established a military commandantship in the city to manage activities in the area.