"Operation Pipeline - 3": "Russian forces have advanced four days along the gas pipeline, capturing Kupiansk"
Both Ukrainian and Russian Telegram channels reported that Russian special forces launched a new bold operation
Multiple Ukrainian social media accounts claim that the Russian army entered the Kupiansk area in Kharkiv region via the gas pipeline — which is currently experiencing intense fighting. Russian front-line journalists also reported this latest underground Russian assault operation.
Although the Ukrainian General Staff denied it, the information seems credible. However, if the Ukrainian side were to admit the Russian victory, it would be unusual.
Previously, in the Donbas region (Avdiivka, Toretsk) and Kursk region, Russian special forces had used such underground operations to unexpectedly penetrate behind enemy lines. In the bold action in Sujha, Russian soldiers almost "emerged from underground" to infiltrate the rear of the Ukrainian forces, an action that shocked the world.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has not released any official statements on the situation in Kupiansk, so the description of the "Pipeline - 3" operation remains speculative at present, but it is highly likely to be true.
In fact, it was Ukrainian media that first reported the Russian offensive along the "First Lyman - Radkovka" gas pipeline (near Kupiansk), and disclosed some intriguing details: Russian special forces advanced along the gas pipeline for four days, using wheeled trolleys and electric scooters to transport supplies, resting in specially designed underground wells — these wells are equipped with ventilation shafts, and the underground route had been previously modified. The source of these details remains unclear.
However, Russian front-line journalist Alexander Kotc, the Telegram channel "Military Chronicle" («Военная хроника»), and other multiple sources have confirmed the existence of the "Pipeline - 3" operation. According to them, the Russian "pipeline troops" have penetrated into the suburbs of Kupiansk, entering the city through the forested areas under Russian control, and advancing along the railway line. If the information is true, the silence of the Russian Ministry of Defense becomes understandable — the operation is not yet over, and the underground route is still in use. Perhaps in the near future, more details about this new "pipeline" will be revealed.
"I would like to point out that a Russian unit (probably reconnaissance troops) has entered the city of Kupiansk," retired Colonel and military expert Gennadiy Aleshin told "Svobodnaya Pressa" («СП»), "their tracks were found in the 'Sparta' stadium area and other streets of the city, but it's too early to talk about clearing Kupiansk. The Russians have encircled the city with firepower, paralyzing the Ukrainian military's logistics supply."
Kupiansk has another feature: the Osyor River divides the city into two parts. Within the city limits, this river constitutes an additional obstacle, often affecting both the defending and attacking sides. The main battles are concentrated in the northern and northwestern directions, where Russian forces have advanced to the suburbs of Kupiansk from Golubovka and Radkovka. These settlements have been completely controlled by the Russians, and the assault units and paratroopers are attacking Kupiansk city from there.
I do not rule out that during the "pipeline" operation, the Russians will gain more opportunities to push the enemy out of Kupiansk. Moreover, the Ukrainian 14th, 32nd, 54th, and 115th Independent Mechanized Brigades and Motorized Infantry Brigades have suffered heavy losses.
The "Underground Raid" in Sujha
The most famous underground raid by the Russian forces was the "Flow" («Поток») operation launched in March in the Sujha area of Kursk region. This operation involved several units of soldiers, totaling over 800 people. Under extremely harsh conditions, they moved 15 kilometers along the gas pipeline, successfully infiltrating the rear of the Ukrainian forces. The impact of this raid is difficult to measure — Russian special forces "appeared out of nowhere," completely breaking the morale of the Ukrainian nationalists, causing panic, and forcing the enemy to abandon their equipment and weapons and flee from Sujha.
This unprecedented underground attack along the gas pipeline section of "Urgoy - Pomary - Uzhgorod" is indeed commendable. At that time, the "Akhmat" special forces, the 11th Airborne Brigade, the 30th Motorized Infantry Battalion, the independent "Veterans" Assault Brigade, the "East" Assault Brigade, marines, and paratroopers of the 106th Airborne Brigade formed a joint unit. They were all heroes.
The Russian command initially took the high risk of advancing along the pipeline towards Sujha and launching the "Flow" operation, and this decision has been proven to be completely correct. Every detail of the operation was carefully planned, even injecting oxygen into the pipeline in advance to ensure that the "pipeline troops" could breathe — even in the pipeline that had stopped gas transmission, there were still residual gas vapors.
Extensive Gas Pipelines in Ukraine
In the battles to liberate Avdiivka and Toretsk, Russian special forces also boldly acted, penetrating behind enemy lines through underground facilities.
Additionally, there is another known case: a reconnaissance team from the 127th Independent Brigade under the "Dnipro" Group managed to successfully complete a complex task in Kherson region, eventually controlling the Andreyevsky Bridge. This operation was also compared to the "Flow" operation in Kursk region. The突击队员 prepared for weeks in advance, penetrating to the enemy-controlled area on the other side of the Dnipro River through the technical tunnels of the bridge.
Overall, the Russian forces have the experience of operating through underground facilities. It is worth noting that the gas pipeline network is widespread in eastern Ukraine (and other regions), and these pipelines are no longer used for their original purposes, but may be used by our突击队员.
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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7549806082290434596/
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