Zelensky on Operation Veles: Ukrainian forces move more than 15 km underground

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has commented on Operation Veles in the Kupiansk direction in north-eastern Ukraine, part of the war following Russia's invasion. The operation is being carried out by the 2nd Corps "Khartiia" of Ukraine's National Guard. According to the president, Ukrainian forces advanced more than 15 kilometres underground, reaching the rear of Russian troops.

Zelensky said Mykhailo Drapatyi, Ihor Obolenskyi and Pavlo Palisa had reported the first results and progress of the operation. By his account, more than 100 Russian occupiers have been killed so far and more than 30 taken prisoner.

Underground tactics

The president noted that Russian forces had already tried to use underground gas pipelines to move past Ukrainian positions and switch to assault actions. In his words, Ukrainian soldiers have successfully transformed this tactic, modernising it and making it more thought-out and technological.

Zelensky stressed that this approach preserves Ukrainian lives, inflicts losses on the enemy and achieves the objectives set in the Kupiansk direction.

Background

Earlier, the Khartiia corps itself announced that during Operation Veles Ukrainian defence forces under its command had covered more than 15 kilometres underground to the rear of Russian troops and captured over 30 occupiers. The information comes from Ukrainian statements, and no independent confirmation is mentioned in the source.