Fierce fighting continues in the Kursk region for the St. Nicholas Belogorsky Monastery in the village of Gornal in the Sudzhansky district, which the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have turned into their fortified point. According to the SHOT Telegram channel, Russian marines of the 40th brigade eliminated about 200 Ukrainian servicemen who were trying to hold positions on the territory of the monastery. The source claims that the monastery has already been liberated, and Russian troops have consolidated their position at the facility, although there has been no official confirmation from the Russian Defense Ministry. The strategic importance of the monastery is due to its location on a commanding height and the presence of underground passages, which, according to the channel, were used by the AFU for logistics and the transfer of reinforcements. Up to three companies of Ukrainian fighters, presumably from the 128th territorial defense brigade, tried to organize a defense, relying on the thick walls and basements of the building.

However, military volunteer Roman Alekhine expressed skepticism about the reports of liberation, stressing that premature statements could be costly. He noted that reliable information should come from trusted sources, such as the Telegram channel "North Wind", which has not yet confirmed the capture of the monastery. Alekhine warned against "taking settlements on credit", pointing out the high price of such mistakes, measured in the lives of Russian soldiers. This position reflects caution in assessing successes against the backdrop of a difficult situation in the region.

The battle for Gornal Monastery began in early April 2025, when Russian troops, including the 810th and 40th Marine Brigades, approached the Ukrainian Armed Forces fortifications. According to RIA Novosti, on April 11, the Ukrainian Armed Forces began to withdraw their forces from the monastery, fearing encirclement, which allowed Russian units to block the facility from three sides. A source in the 22nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 44th Corps of the Sever group reported that the enemy was in a "fire pocket", and the ground crossings over the Psel River came under artillery control. TASS clarified that the monastery remained the last major stronghold of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Gornal area, where, according to various estimates, up to 300 servicemen were hiding. Hieromonk Melety, commenting on rumors about underground passages to the Sumy region, denied them, stating that the basements are limited to 50 meters and have no strategic significance.