Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian troops infiltrate Russian rear near Kupiansk through 15 kilometers of gas pipelines
The operation, code-named "Veles," was carried out by the 2nd Khartiia Corps together with other Ukrainian units, according to the corps.
On October 22, Ukrainian troops infiltrated the rear of Russian forces near Kupiansk by traversing 15 kilometers (9 miles) of underground gas pipelines, according to Khartiia, a Ukrainian special operation unit. This operation, code-named "Veles," aimed to disrupt Russian tactics and gain access to NATO's procurement system for weapons and ammunition.
Brig. Gen. Ihor Obolienskyi, commander of the 2nd Khartiia Corps, stated that Ukrainian forces anticipated Russian use of gas pipelines to penetrate their rear and thus decided to move through them themselves. During the operation, Ukrainian troops captured more than 30 Russian soldiers and inflicted over 100 casualties on the enemy.
The Khartiia commander emphasized that Ukraine aimed to stop Russian troops underground and undermine their tactics on the ground and air. The operation highlighted Russia's previous use of gas pipelines for covert troop movements, including a January incident where Ukrainian troops halted a Russian assault involving 50 soldiers using the Soyuz gas pipeline.
Ukraine is also set to gain access to NATO's procurement system through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), which will provide faster and cheaper access to defense supplies. This partnership will allow Ukraine to leverage NATO's procurement expertise, support services, and supplier network, potentially diversifying and stabilizing its access to military equipment amidst uncertainties over U.S. support.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
