The Defence Forces carried out Operation «Veles» in the Kupiansk sector of the Kharkiv region, the 2nd Corps of the National Guard «Charter» reported on 22 October. Ukrainian troops advanced more than 15 kilometres through underground tunnels into the rear of Russian forces and thwarted their plan to use gas pipelines to bypass the defences. According to the corps, more than 30 Russian soldiers were taken prisoner, whilst enemy casualties exceeded 100.
Briefly about the main points
- Russia had planned to infiltrate the rear of Ukrainian units via gas pipelines.
- The Ukrainian command had been monitoring the use of underground routes in advance.
- Operations underground were combined with an offensive on the surface and the use of drones.
- Units from the National Guard, the Main Intelligence Directorate and the unmanned systems unit were deployed for the operation.
- The boundaries of the liberated territories within the scope of the operation were not disclosed.
A subterfuge thwarted the Russian plan
Russian troops were preparing a covert incursion behind the lines of Ukrainian units near Kupianska via gas pipelines. The commander of the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine «Charter», Brigadier General Ihor Obolenskyi, reported that the Ukrainian side had been monitoring the enemy’s use of underground utility networks for some time.
Following this, the Defence Forces decided to employ this tactic against Russian troops. The aim was to prevent the defensive positions from being outflanked and to advance towards the Russian forces from unexpected directions.
The training required communication and navigation without GPS
The underground advance took place simultaneously with the offensive by other units on the surface. Drone operators supported these operations, enabling the manoeuvre in the communication lines to be combined with attacks on Russian positions from the outside.
Sappers, engineers and support units were involved in preparing the routes. The soldiers also underwent physical and psychological training to prepare them for working in confined spaces.
GPS cannot be used effectively underground, and radio signals can be unreliable. We therefore employed our own technological solutions for communications, navigation and life support. Every time we went to the surface, there was a risk of coming into direct contact with Russian military personnel.
The «Charter» headquarters coordinated units across several operational fronts
The operation was led by the headquarters of the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine «Charter». Among the forces deployed, the command named the 13th Operational Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine «Charter», the 23rd Assault Regiment «R.U.G», the 21st «Lava» Unmanned Systems Regiment, and units of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence, including the «Freedom of Russia» Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps.
The 429th «Achilles» Unmanned Systems Brigade and other units of the Defence Forces also took part. A joint centre was set up with the «Achilles» Brigade to coordinate underground movements, surface operations and drone strikes.
The command reported that the Russian Federation’s plans had been disrupted on that section of the front line
The «Charter» stated that the operation had disrupted the Russian command’s plans to outflank Ukrainian positions and had made it possible to break the stalemate in this sector. The figures regarding the number of prisoners of war and Russian casualties were provided by the corps command and have not been independently verified.
The figure of over 15 kilometres refers to the length of underground utility lines laid, not to the front line having advanced by that distance. The exact area of the liberated territories and the list of settlements within the scope of the operation have not been made public.
