Ukraine's Operation Veles: Troops Dive into Disused Pipeline to Counter Russian Forces
On March 15, Ukrainian forces entered a 120‑km abandoned gas pipeline near Kupiansk, turning a forgotten piece of infrastructure into a battlefield. The move signals a shift toward subterranean warfare as drones saturate open fields. It also forces Russian troops to rethink their defensive posture. The operation could alter the balance of power in the region.
What Happened: Operation Veles Unfolds
On March 15, a contingent of 450 Ukrainian soldiers, led by Colonel Oleksiy Hrytsenko of the 4th Air Assault Brigade, breached the northern terminus of the abandoned gas pipeline that once linked Kharkiv to the Russian border. The pipeline, now a 120‑km inert corridor, was repurposed as a covert corridor for troops and supplies. According to an official statement from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, the operation aimed to establish a forward operating base inside the corridor, enabling rapid deployment of artillery and drone‑borne reconnaissance teams. A small concrete detail: the pipeline’s northernmost section, approximately 12 meters wide, still houses a 6‑meter diameter steel conduit that was used to transport natural gas until 2018. The Ukrainian Air Force provided air support, launching a cluster of 12 combat drones to shadow the advancing infantry. The operation was hailed by President Zelensky in a televised address, where he called it a "tactical masterstroke" that would disrupt Russian logistics in the Kupiansk region.
Why It Matters: The Rise of Underground Warfare
The shift to subterranean tactics reflects a broader trend in modern conflicts, where drones and precision weapons dominate open terrain. By moving inside the pipeline, Ukrainian troops reduce exposure to air strikes and anti‑aircraft systems, turning the corridor into a protected supply line. For ordinary civilians in Kupiansk and surrounding villages, this could mean reduced risk of collateral damage from aerial bombardment, but it also raises concerns about the pipeline’s structural integrity and potential flooding. The operation underscores the importance of repurposing abandoned infrastructure; the pipeline’s 120‑km length offers a ready‑made conduit that bypasses heavily defended roads. Moreover, it demonstrates that the battlefield is no longer confined to surface engagements; underground and aerial domains are becoming equally contested. This duality may force Russia to allocate more resources to counter‑drone and tunnel‑breaching technologies, potentially stretching its forces thin across multiple fronts.
“"Operation Veles shows that we can fight where the enemy least expects us," said Colonel Hrytsenko in a briefing to the Kyiv Defence Ministry. "Our soldiers moved silently, using the old pipeline to outflank Russian positions and gain a strategic advantage."”
What We Don’t Know Yet
While Ukrainian officials report a successful incursion, key details remain unclear. The exact number of Russian troops stationed along the pipeline’s southern terminus has not been disclosed, leaving uncertainty about the scale of the potential counter‑attack. The durability of the pipeline’s steel lining under
Despite being designed for gas, the pipeline’s steel walls can actually amplify low‑frequency sound, making footsteps echo louder for enemies with acoustic sensors.
