Ukraine seals underground route to Kupiansk

Ukrainian forces have stopped new effective Russian infiltrations into the city of Kupiansk, according to Viktor Trehubov, spokesman for the Joint Forces Group. Trehubov made the assessment during a live television interview reported by Ukrinform. He stated that since the conclusion of Operation Veles, no further large-scale Russian entries into the sector have been recorded.

Russian troops previously established a foothold in the northern districts of Kupiansk. Trehubov explained that small groups entered the area through the village of Holubivka. These units utilized a pipeline to move covertly and set up positions in residential zones. The spokesman noted that Russian forces had been driven out of the city once but returned by creating a grey zone in Holubivka.

Trehubov attributed the continued Russian interest in Kupiansk to its physical condition. He compared the city to Vovchansk, noting that while Vovchansk is reduced to rubble, Kupiansk retains substantial buildings. These structures provide shelter and launch sites for military operations. The remaining infrastructure allows units to maintain a presence despite previous offensives.

Operation Veles targeted the specific underground pipeline that Russian forces used to infiltrate the front. The goal was to completely disable this route. Before the operation, Russian units attempted to use underground gas infrastructure to bypass Ukrainian positions and launch assaults. The joint forces aimed to cut off this specific logistical advantage.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously discussed the tactical shift involved in the operation. He stated that Ukrainian forces under the command of the Khartiia Corps advanced more than 15 kilometers underground into the Russian rear. Zelenskyy said Ukrainian soldiers modernized the tactic of using underground infrastructure, making it more sophisticated and technologically advanced.

The president emphasized that the operation protects lives and inflicts losses on the occupiers. He confirmed that the forces are achieving objectives in the Kupiansk sector. The underground advance represents a change in how Ukrainian units utilize subterranean routes for combat operations.

Trehubov confirmed that both Ukrainian and Russian troops remain present in Kupiansk. The cessation of effective infiltration indicates a change in the tactical balance in the northern districts. The Joint Forces Group continues to monitor the sector following the completion of Operation Veles.