Russian Forces Infiltrate Kupyansk Through Underground Pipelines Amid Ongoing Fighting

Russian forces have been employing underground gas pipelines as covert infiltration routes to reach the outskirts and residential areas of Kupyansk, a strategic city in eastern Ukraine. According to Ukrainian military analysts and the DeepState project, these pipelines allow Russian troops to bypass river defenses and emerge near Kupyansk after a four-day journey using specialized wheeled platforms and electric scooters within the pipes. This tactic has been utilized multiple times before, including in Avdiivka and Sudzha, establishing a pattern of subterranean military maneuvers. Despite Russian attempts to infiltrate, Ukrainian Defense Forces maintain control over Kupyansk, with ongoing counter-sabotage operations and strikes targeting these pipeline routes. The presence of Russian troops inside the city complicates Ukrainian military actions, especially since many civilians remain in the same buildings as enemy forces, limiting the ability to conduct strikes. The infiltration through pipelines underscores Russia's adaptation of underground infrastructure for logistical and tactical advantages amid intense fighting around Kupyansk.