UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Oct. 28 — Ukrainian forces have not reported any new Russian incursions into Kupiansk following the underground counteroffensive operation known as Veles, which took place north of the city.

 However, Russian troops who had previously entered northern Kupiansk remained in the city, Viktor Trehubov, the press officer of the military group responsible for the Kharkiv oblast, said during the national telethon.

On Oct. 22, the 2nd Khartiia Corps reported on the conduct of the Veles operation. Ukrainian forces analyzed Russian tactics of using underground gas pipelines for their offensive and conducted military operations on the ground, in the air, and underground. Ukrainian troops advanced 5 kilometers (9 miles) north of Kupiansk, preventing Russian plans to attack the city.

According to Trehubov, the Russians had previously managed to penetrate the northern districts of the city in small groups.

“After the Russians in Holubivka managed to establish a gray zone for themselves and gain access to the pipeline, they infiltrated several dozen people,” Trehubov said.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that the Russians will lose their positions in Kupiansk because of the Veles operation. Analysts, citing Russian military sources, said that Ukrainian actions have disrupted their logistics across the Oskil river, which flows through Kupiansk and the surrounding area. This is forcing Russian troops to redeploy personnel and resources from the Borova axis, south of Kupiansk, to address the risk of Ukrainian counterattacks.

Gwara Media is currently unable to verify this information independently.

Trehubov said that the infrastructure in Kupiansk has been less damaged than in Vovchansk, a city north of Kharkiv oblast. The military is using the undamaged buildings as shelters or positions.

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