Russia kept sneaking troops through gas pipes behind Ukrainian lines. Now Ukraine has gone more than 15 km underground to do the same to Russia

Ukraine's Defense Forces have extended their reach more than 15 kilometers underground to challenge Russian forces on the Kupiansk axis in Kharkiv Oblast, according to the Khartiia Corps of Ukraine's National Guard. This underground advance, dubbed Operation Veles, was executed alongside surface attacks and drone strikes, targeting Russian troops from two directions.

The operation took place in response to Russian troops repeatedly infiltrating the area by crawling through gas pipelines, a tactic Ukraine had previously identified and reported. The Khartiia Corps conducted extensive research on Russian movement through pipelines before initiating their own underground counteroffensive, which involved physical and psychological training for soldiers, preparation of the underground route, and deployment of special systems for communication, navigation, logistics, and life support.

The operation involved various units from Khartiia's brigade, including the R.U.H. assault regiment, the Lava drone regiment, the Achilles drone brigade, and military intelligence units such as the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps. The operation was named after Veles, a Slavic pagan god of the underworld, symbolizing the unconventional nature of this military tactic.