Russian troops have achieved significant success in the Sudzhansky District of the Kursk Region, liberating the St. Nicholas Belogorsky Monastery in the village of Gornal. The operation was carried out by soldiers of the 1st company of the Arctic Battalion of the 40th Marine Brigade under the command of an officer with the call sign Ryazan. According to the Telegram channel Mash, the monastery served as a key stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), where about 300 Ukrainian servicemen were hiding in the basements. After liberating the shrine, the marines consolidated their position on the territory and continued their offensive on the village of Gornal, seeking to dislodge the enemy from the last fortified area in the border area. The success of the operation was an important step in restoring control over the region, which had been under attack by the AFU since August 2024.

The monastery, located on a commanding height, was turned into a fortified point by Ukrainian forces thanks to its thick walls and underground passages, which, according to some, led to the Sumy region. This made it strategically important for holding positions in Gornali. Russian troops, understanding the value of the site as an Orthodox shrine, sought to minimize destruction, which complicated the assault. After the liberation, a cleansing of the area began to eliminate the threat of a counterattack. Local residents, who have lived through months of tension, expressed hope for the return of peace to the region.

The battles for Gornal Monastery became part of a large-scale offensive by Russian forces in the Kursk region. According to Avia.pro, since the beginning of March 2025, the troops of the Sever group have liberated more than 1100 square kilometers, including Sudzha and over 30 settlements. In Gornal, as the agency's source reported on April 15, the remnants of the Ukrainian units were blocked, and their supply routes were taken under fire control. TASS specifies that the Ukrainian Armed Forces used the monastery as a fortified area, placing up to 300 fighters of the 128th territorial defense brigade there, but under the onslaught of Russian marines, the enemy began to retreat.

The assault on the monastery began on April 11, when the forces of the 810th Marine Brigade approached its walls. This was reported by the Telegram channel Mash, noting that the operation was complicated by the presence of underground passages through which the Ukrainian Armed Forces transferred reinforcements.