Ukrainian Forces Go 15 Km Underground in One of the War’s Most Unusual Assault Operations

Ukrainian forces traveled more than 15 kilometers through underground infrastructure before emerging behind Russian positions during Operation VELES, a counteroffensive operation on the Kupiansk axis coordinated by the 2nd Khartiia Corps of Ukraine’s National Guard, the unit said on October 22.

The underground route was integrated into a single operational network with dedicated communications, navigation, low-noise logistics, and synchronized drone strikes.

According to Militarnyi, at the same time, Ukrainian units attacked Russian positions on the surface, allowing the Defense Forces to pressure them from two directions.

According to Khartiia, more than 100 Russian troops were killed during the operation, and more than 30 others were captured.

Brig. Gen. Ihor Obolenskyi, commander of the 2nd Khartiia Corps, said Ukrainian forces studied Russia’s own experience with underground movement and adapted similar methods for their counteroffensive.

Preparing troops for the mission required both physical and psychological training for extended operations in confined spaces. Combat engineers and sappers prepared the underground routes, while dedicated life-support systems were used to sustain personnel beneath the battlefield.

The operation was significantly more complex than simply moving troops through tunnels. Specialized communications and navigation were required underground, while supplies had to be transported with minimal noise to avoid revealing the movement above.

Airborne coordination was provided by a joint center working with the 429th Achilles Brigade of Unmanned Systems. Units from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, the 23rd R.U.H Assault Regiment, the 21st Lava Unmanned Systems Regiment, and other formations also participated.

By synchronizing the underground advance with drone operations and attacks on the surface, Ukrainian forces were able to emerge in the Russian rear while enemy troops were simultaneously engaged from another direction.

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War in Ukraine

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Khartiia said Operation VELES helped secure the rear approaches to Kupiansk and created conditions for further Ukrainian operations in the Kharkiv region.

The operation was named VELES after the Slavic pagan deity associated with the underworld—a reference to the underground battlefield Ukrainian troops used to reach Russian positions from an unexpected direction.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi ended with 277 square kilometers retaken and at least 8,000 Russian troops killed or wounded.

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