Ukrainian troops use gas pipes as new front
Near Kupiansk, Ukrainian units carried out an operation through underground pipes, according to Ukrainian and international sources.
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The war in Ukraine has taken on an unusual dimension near Kupiansk: Ukrainian soldiers used an underground gas pipeline network to approach Russian positions. According to Ukrainian military statements, Russian troops had previously also used an underground route to approach Ukrainian positions.
The operation, which Ukraine calls Veles, took place around Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region. According to the Ukrainian National Guard, units from the Second Khartiia Corps travelled approximately fifteen kilometres through underground pipes. Euronews described the operation on Wednesday, based on Ukrainian military statements.
The pipes were originally intended for transporting gas. In some places, they are approximately 1.2 metres wide. This allowed Ukrainian soldiers to move out of sight of drones and approach Russian positions from an unexpected direction.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that more than 100 Russian soldiers had been killed and more than 30 captured during the operation. Those figures come from Ukrainian sources and have not been independently confirmed by international observers. Russia has not confirmed the Ukrainian account.
According to Ukrainian military statements, the operation was partly intended to close a route that Russian troops had previously used to approach Ukrainian positions. A Ukrainian brigade said earlier this week that an underground connection beneath the Oskil River had been closed.
The fighting underground is a consequence of the increasingly important role of drones on the surface. Vehicles and groups of soldiers are quickly visible there, prompting both sides to seek ways of moving under cover. Pipes provide protection, but make communication, resupply and evacuation difficult.
The operation is not evidence that the war as a whole is being fought underground. It concerns a local battle around a specific infrastructure corridor. Nevertheless, the incident illustrates how existing buildings, tunnels and pipes have become part of the tactics at the front.
Kupiansk lies in north-eastern Ukraine and is militarily important because of its location and railway connections. The city and surrounding area have long been a theatre of war. For European countries, the development underlines how the war is adapting to new technology and how civilian infrastructure can acquire direct military value.
Independent verification of the exact route, casualties and territorial gains is lacking. The confirmed core is that Ukrainian units reported an underground pipeline operation and that international media reported on it. Its longer-term military significance cannot yet be determined.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Ukraine reported an operation through underground gas pipelines near Kupiansk.
- The operation is taking place in an area where drones make movement on the surface more difficult.
- Russian casualties and Ukrainian territorial gains have not been independently established.
Left
Arguments The operation shows how a war that affects infrastructure and civilians is becoming increasingly dangerous. The emphasis is on protecting the Ukrainian population and on international support to halt Russian military pressure.
Values Territorial integrity, civilian protection and the international rule of law.
Consequences More support could help Ukraine defend itself, but may prolong the war and increase the risk of escalation.
Centre
Arguments Military claims must be strictly separated from verifiable facts. European countries should continue supporting Ukraine, while also monitoring diplomatic channels and the risks of the conflict spreading.
Values Factual accuracy, proportionality, security and diplomacy.
Consequences A cautious course limits misjudgements, but may give Ukraine fewer resources to retake territory.
Right
Arguments The use of underground routes underlines that Ukraine needs every available means to repel Russian attacks. A stronger military position is the best basis for credible negotiations.
Values Deterrence, national defence and responsibility towards allies.
Consequences More military support could deter Russia, but entails higher costs and greater risks of direct confrontation.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article attributes military claims and explicitly states that casualties and territorial gains have not been independently confirmed. The geographical and operational context is supported by several open sources.
- confirmed Ukrainian units used underground gas pipelines near Kupiansk. — This was reported by Euronews and Ukrainian sources cited by several media outlets. source
- uncertain The route was approximately fifteen kilometres long. — The figure comes from Ukrainian military statements and has not been independently verified. source
- uncertain Ukraine reported more than 100 Russian dead and more than 30 prisoners. — The figures come from a Ukrainian statement without independent confirmation. source
Editor's note
The operation was reported by Ukrainian military sources and described by several open media outlets. The reported casualties and precise territorial gains have not been independently confirmed.Sources
- Inside Ukraine's extraordinary underground pipeline operation against Russian forces near Kupiansk — Euronews
- Ukraine cuts off Russian underground infiltration route to Kupiansk, military says — Hromadske
- Ukrainian troops infiltrate Russian rear through gas pipelines near Kupiansk — The Kyiv Independent
More on this in Dutch media
- de Volkskrant — „oekraïne rusland”
- RTL Nieuws — „oekraïne rusland”
- NOS — „oekraïne rusland”