Ukrainian units use gas pipelines to reach Russian rear near Kupiansk
Ukraine's 2nd Khartiia Corps said its troops moved about 15 kilometers through underground gas pipelines to reach Russian rear positions near Kupiansk. The operation, named Veles, paired the underground advance with above-ground drone strikes, according to the corps. Khartiia claimed more than 30 Russian soldiers were captured and over 100 were casualties, figures the Kyiv Independent could not verify.
Ukraine’s National Guard 2nd Khartiia Corps said its Operation Veles sent troops roughly 15 kilometers through gas pipelines near Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, then combined that underground movement with drone attacks above ground. Commander Brig. Gen. Ihor Obolienskyi said Ukrainian forces expected Russian troops to use the same pipeline routes and moved underground first.
Khartiia claimed over 30 Russian soldiers were taken prisoner and more than 100 became casualties; these figures were not independently verified. The corps also recalled a January attempt by about 50 Russian soldiers to advance through the Soyuz pipeline and said retreating Russian troops later forced civilians, including children and elderly people, into the Shebelinka–Ostrogozhsk pipeline.
The operation could affect civilians in the Kupiansk area by keeping fighting close to underground infrastructure and by heightening risks around pipeline routes. Reports of captured soldiers and casualty claims may shape morale among military families and local communities, while unverified figures may complicate public understanding. If similar tactics spread, residents and emergency services may face greater uncertainty near industrial corridors.