Full Breakdown
Operation Veles: Ukraine’s Underground Advance Behind Russian Lines
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Core Event
In late October 2024, Ukraine’s 2nd Khartiia Corps of the National Guard conducted “Operation Veles,” moving more than 15 kilometers (9 miles) through underground utility and gas-pipeline networks in the Kharkiv region. The troops emerged behind Russian positions near the strategic town of Kupiansk, where they combined underground movement with surface actions and coordinated drone strikes. The corps reported that the maneuver resulted in the capture of more than 30 Russian personnel and inflicted Russian casualties exceeding 100.
Background & Context
Russian forces had previously employed the region’s extensive gas-pipeline system to transport troops covertly, including a noted assault in January 2024 through the Soyuz pipeline and a civilian-evacuation operation on September 27, 2024, in which Russian units moved civilians along a pipeline near Kupiansk. Anticipating further Russian exploitation of these routes, Ukrainian commanders prepared an underground counter-offensive to deny the enemy the ability to infiltrate the rear of Ukrainian defenses.
Timeline
- October 21, 2024 – The 2nd Khartiia Corps released the first video footage of Operation Veles, showing Ukrainian soldiers operating beneath the surface.
- September 27, 2024 – Russian troops evacuated civilians from the Kupiansk community using a gas pipeline, as reported by Ukrinform.
- January 2024 – Ukrainian forces halted a Russian assault that attempted to advance through the Soyuz gas pipeline (general reference).
Data & Statistics
- Underground distance covered: > 15 km (9 mi) through pipelines and utility tunnels.
- Russian prisoners taken: > 30 personnel, according to the corps.
- Russian casualties: > 100 killed or wounded, as claimed by the corps.
- Operational integration: Underground movement was synchronized with surface maneuvers and drone strikes via a joint coordination centre that included the “Achilles” brigade. Proprietary Ukrainian technologies were employed for communications, navigation and life-support in confined spaces.
Official Statements & Responses
He added that troops received specialized training for confined-space combat and that in-house technological solutions enabled reliable communication and navigation beneath the earth.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Russians believed underground infrastructure was their exclusive tool for bypassing our defenses,” — Brig. Gen. Ihor Oboliensky
- “The Russians intended to use the gas routes to penetrate the rear of our forces. So we went underground ourselves,” — Brig. Gen. Ihor Obolienskyi
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The Kyiv Independent noted that it could not independently verify the reported figures of prisoners and casualties. The corps has withheld detailed information about the exact location, objectives, duration and full scope of the operation, releasing only limited video footage. Consequently, external confirmation of the operation’s quantitative outcomes remains unavailable.