Zelenskyy Says Ukrainian Forces Have Adapted Russian Underground Tactics During Operation Veles

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that Ukrainian forces have inflicted significant casualties on Russian troops during Operation Veles, while also capturing dozens of enemy personnel and advancing over 15 kilometers underground on the Kupiansk axis in the Kharkiv region. The Ukrainian Armed Forces and National Guard presented an update on the operation's progress and early outcomes to Zelenskyy.

Mykhailo Drapatyi, Ihor Obolenskyi, and Pavlo Palisa briefed the President on the operation, which is being executed by the Khartiia Corps and the 2nd Corps of Ukraine's National Guard. Zelenskyy emphasized that the mission aimed to advance Ukraine's goals on the Kupiansk axis while mitigating risks to Ukrainian troops. He noted that Russian forces had previously attempted to utilize underground gas pipelines for infiltration and assaults, but Ukrainian soldiers have refined this tactic, making it more advanced and technologically sophisticated.

According to Zelenskyy, "Ukrainian soldiers have successfully transformed this tactic, modernized it, and made it much more sophisticated and technological. We are protecting the lives of our people, inflicting losses on the occupiers, and achieving our objectives on the Kupiansk axis." The Khartiia Corps previously shared details of the underground counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region, which involves underground movement combined with drone support.

This operation underscores the Ukrainian forces' ability to adapt to Russian exploitation of underground infrastructure for gains on the battlefield. Zelenskyy's latest report highlights the importance of specialized operations and technological adaptation in Ukraine's defense efforts and the progress made in repelling Russian forces in the Kupiansk sector.