Ukrainian troops infiltrate Russian rear through gas pipelines near Kupiansk, Khartiia says

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1. 1h ago

   Ukrainian Forces Infiltrate Russian Rear Through Gas Pipelines

   Ukrainian troops executed an underground counteroffensive dubbed Operation Veles, infiltrating behind Russian lines through a gas pipeline network near Kupiansk. The Khartiia corps stated that units advanced fifteen kilometers through 1.2-metre-wide pipes to reach the Russian rear, engaging in close firefights underground. According to the corps, the operation resulted in the capture of over thirty Russian soldiers and more than one hundred Russian casualties. Ukrainian media and military outlets described the action as an underground counteroffensive that outplayed enemy forces on the Kupiansk front.

   Why it matters

   The operation demonstrates a tactical use of Soviet-era subterranean infrastructure to bypass heavily defended surface positions. Fighting inside constrained pipelines highlights the increasingly complex and brutal methods employed in the war. The success of such deep underground maneuvers alters the tactical calculations for defensive lines in the sector.

   What is confirmed

   • Ukrainian troops infiltrated the Russian rear near Kupiansk through gas pipelines.
   • The Khartiia corps named the operation Operation Veles.
   • Ukrainian forces advanced 15 kilometers underground behind Russian lines.
   • The gas pipes used in the operation were 1.2-metres-wide.
   • Over 30 Russian soldiers were captured during the operation.
   • Russian forces suffered more than 100 casualties.

   What to watch next

   • Visual or official confirmation of the pipeline clearing methods from independent monitors
   • Further military briefings on the operational status of the Kupiansk front following the infiltration
   Sources used for this update (12)

   1. www.newsweek.com — Correction policies and requests
   2. WSJ — The Subterranean Battle Playing Out Deep in Ukraine’s Soviet-Era Pipelines
   3. Kyiv Post — ‘We Outplayed Them’: Ukraine Claims First Underground Counteroffensive
   4. The Kyiv Independent — Ukrainian troops infiltrate Russian rear through gas pipelines near Kupiansk, Khartiia says
   5. Ukrinform — Ukrainian forces advance 15 km behind Russian lines through underground routes on Kupiansk front
   6. The Atlantic — The Underground Battles Shaping the War in Ukraine
   7. Українська правда — They fought firefights inside 1.2-metre-wide gas pipe: Khartiia reveals details of operation near Kupiansk
   8. The Kyiv Independent — Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian troops infiltrate Russian rear near Kupiansk through 15 kilometers of gas pipelines
   9. Українська правда — Over 15 km underground behind Russian lines: Khartiia reveals details of Operation Veles near Kupiansk – video
   10. UNITED24 Media — “Operation Impossible”: Ukrainian Troops Clear Kilometers of Gas Pipeline Near Kupiansk
   11. Мілітарний — Khartiia Corps Launches Underground Offensive Veles in Kupiansk, Advances 15 km
   12. kyivindependent.com — Ukrainian troops infiltrate Russian rear through gas pipelines near Kupiansk, Khartiia says
   confidence 100%