{
  "id": 16059392,
  "title": "Ukraine’s Khartiia Brigade says underground operation pushed 15 kilometers behind Russian lines near Kupiansk",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/ukraines-khartiia-brigade-says-underground-operation-pushed-15",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-22T14:42:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Insider",
    "slug": "the-insider",
    "url": "https://theins.press/en/news/298615"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ukraine's Khartiia Brigade claims to have carried out a daring underground operation in the Kharkiv region, pushing their troops 15 kilometers behind Russian lines near Kupiansk. The operation, dubbed \"Veles,\" aimed to break the positional deadlock on the Kupiansk front, according to a statement released by the brigade. Russian forces reportedly suffered significant losses, with about 100 troops killed and another 30 captured during the mission.\n\nBrig. Gen. Ihor Obolensky, the Khartiia commander, explained that the Ukrainians meticulously studied enemy movements underground, realizing the Russians planned to infiltrate their rear through gas pipelines. In response, the Khartiia Brigade took the initiative, advancing underground to outmaneuver and outpace the enemy. Simultaneously, ground units struck Russian forces from two levels, leveraging drones from the Achilles Unmanned Systems Brigade for aerial support.\n\nNotably, the underground operation transpired without GPS, reliable radio communications, or natural light. In preparation for the mission, Ukrainian soldiers underwent rigorous physical and psychological training to endure the confined and challenging conditions. Combat engineers, sappers, and the brigade's support battalion were responsible for preparing the underground route. The operation was aptly named after Veles, a deity from Slavic mythology linked to the underworld, reflecting the brave and unconventional tactics employed by Ukrainian forces.",
  "summary": "Ukraine’s Khartiia Brigade described an operation in the Kharkiv region in which its troops advanced 15 kilometers behind Russian lines through a network of underground infrastructure. The operation, code-named “Veles,” allowed Ukrainian forces to break out of a positional stalemate on the Kupiansk axis, according to a Khartiia statement obtained by The Insider . Khartiia said Russian forces lost…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Euromaidan Press",
        "title": "Fog blinds Ukrainian drones. Russia resumes mechanized assaults in the south after months-long pause, military officials say",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/fog-blinds-ukrainian-drones-russia-resumes-mechanized-assaults-in-the",
        "published": "2026-10-22T11:39:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "Germany arrests Ukrainian man suspected of spying for Russia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/germany-arrests-ukrainian-man-suspected-of-spying-for-russia",
        "published": "2026-10-22T11:43:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Germany arrests Ukrainian national suspected of spying for Russia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/germany-arrests-ukrainian-national-suspected-of-spying-for-russia",
        "published": "2026-10-22T13:26:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Germany arrests Ukrainian national on suspicion of spying for Russia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/germany-arrests-ukrainian-national-on-suspicion-of-spying-for-russia",
        "published": "2026-10-22T13:39:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Meduza (English)",
        "title": "Germany detains Ukrainian national suspected of spying for Russia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/germany-detains-ukrainian-national-suspected-of-spying-for-russia",
        "published": "2026-10-22T15:24:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}