Russia digs tunnels across occupied bank of Kherson Oblast, Ukrainian marine officer says
Alim Kerimov, chief of staff of Ukraine's 34th Separate Marine Brigade, says Russian forces use tunnels up to 150 meters long across 20–30% of the occupied left bank in Kherson Oblast. He says Russia has shifted from frontal assaults to a positional "hybrid" war.
Russian forces in the occupied left bank of the Dnipro in Kherson Oblast are using underground passages to move in areas where Ukraine controls the airspace, according to Alim Kerimov, chief of staff of Ukraine's 34th Separate Marine Brigade. He spoke to Krym.Realii about the situation in the south of Ukraine during Russia's invasion. He said the tunnels reach up to 150 meters in length and cover roughly 20–30% of the relevant stretches of the left bank.
Kerimov sees the shift to a positional "hybrid" war as a sign that Russian offensives have failed. As of late 2026, Russia controls more than 70% of Kherson Oblast, though the city of Kherson remains in Ukrainian hands.
Fewer assaults, more shelling
Russia has reduced assaults and crossings of the Dnipro River while stepping up artillery, drone and aviation strikes. In 2025 there were up to 700 Russian assault sorties; now the figure is 150–200 a year. Last year there were up to 200 sorties by boat, and in the past six months about 22. Kerimov describes the change as a turn to terror against civilians.
Still, Russia has not given up trying to retake Kherson, which Ukraine liberated in 2022. On 22 October a Russian amphibious landing attempt was wiped out: one Russian was killed and three were captured. Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin says the region is hit by up to 6,500 drone attacks a week.
Tunnels and marine positions
According to Kerimov, his brigade hunts the passages around the clock. Speaking of Oleshky, an occupied town opposite Kherson, he said he would not describe the system there as extensive. Russian drone launch points lie 5 to 15 kilometers inside the occupied bank.
Ukrainian marines continue to hold positions in the island zone of the Dnipro and, Kerimov said, are advancing in several directions, including toward a particular settlement on the left bank. He did not give coordinates.
