Ukraine Says Operation Veles Advanced Underground Near Kupiansk

Ukraine’s 2nd Khartiia Corps says its forces advanced more than 15 kilometers underground near Kupiansk in an operation named Veles, combining the movement with surface attacks and drone strikes against Russian positions. The corps released footage showing soldiers underground and described the mission as an effort to disrupt Russian movements in the area. Brigadier General Ihor Obolienskyi, commander of the corps, said Ukrainian forces had studied Russian use of underground routes and anticipated that Russian troops would try to use gas pipelines to reach the rear of Ukrainian lines. The corps said its troops instead used underground infrastructure to advance behind Russian positions in the Kupiansk sector of Kharkiv region. According to the corps, the underground advance was paired with operations above ground and drone strikes, striking Russian forces from two directions. The corps said the action prevented Russian forces from infiltrating the rear of Ukrainian lines near Kupiansk. It did not disclose the operation’s objectives or duration. The corps reported that more than 30 Russian soldiers were captured and that Russian forces suffered more than 100 losses. Those...