--- title: "Ukraine forces advance 15km underground in Kupyansk operation" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/ukraine-forces-advance-15km-underground-in-kupyansk-operation" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/ukraine-forces-advance-15km-underground-in-kupyansk-operation" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/ukraine-forces-advance-15km-underground-in-kupyansk-operation.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/ukraine-forces-advance-15km-underground-in-kupyansk-operation" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "Ukraine" published: "2026-10-22T10:46:15.262Z" source_reported: "2026-10-22T09:56:10.000Z" updated: "2026-10-22T10:46:15.262Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-22T11:45:21.091179+00:00" --- # Ukraine forces advance 15km underground in Kupyansk operation *Operation 'Veles' involved underground communications and drone strikes, resulting in captured Russian soldiers and casualties.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Central claims attributed to the 'Charter' corps, with some details from the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is clear and holds together, with specific figures and dates provided. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use strong language like 'Amazing Operation' and 'First in the World'. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Ukrainian forces advanced more than 15 kilometers through underground communications in the Kupyansk direction. - The operation, codenamed 'Veles', was coordinated with surface units and drone strikes. - Over 30 Russian soldiers were captured, and Russian forces suffered more than 100 casualties. - The operation involved units including the 'Charter' corps and other Defense Forces units. Ukrainian forces have conducted an underground operation in the Kupyansk direction, advancing over 15 kilometers through subterranean communications. The operation, codenamed 'Veles', was carried out by the 'Charter' corps and other units of the Defense Forces. It involved coordinated actions with surface units and drone strikes. According to claims made by the Ukrainian side, the operation resulted in the capture of over 30 Russian soldiers. Russian forces reportedly suffered over 100 casualties. These figures have been published by the Ukrainian side and have not been independently confirmed. ## Disagreement on the nature of the operation Telegrafi reported that Ukrainian forces advanced through underground roads, penetrating the rear of Russian forces. ZN.UA stated that Ukrainian soldiers advanced through underground communications into enemy rear, sabotaging an attempt by Russians to enter the Kupyansk rear. Portfolio reported that Ukrainian soldiers advanced through underground gas pipelines to get behind Russian forces. RMF24.pl reported that soldiers covered 15 km of gas pipelines. Index.hr reported that Ukrainian forces infiltrated behind Russian soldiers after crossing through underground gas pipelines. Gwara Media reported that the defense forces passed through underground communications to the rear of the Russians. ## Omissions None of the reports below mention the specific names of all the units involved in the operation, beyond the 'Charter' corps and other Defense Forces units. The full reports from Telegrafi and ZN.UA mention additional participating units, but these details were not consistently carried across all digests. ## Who covered it Shares of the 7 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 71% (5) - Centre: 29% (2) - Right: 0% (0) 11 of 18 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-22T11:45:21.091179+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 4 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-22T12:00:25.672Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports led on the underground advance and its scale. Telegrafi reported that Ukrainian forces advanced over 15 kilometers through underground roads, penetrating the rear of Russian forces. Index.hr reported that Ukrainian forces infiltrated behind Russian soldiers after crossing about 15 kilometers through underground gas pipelines. Kyiv Post highlighted that Ukrainian troops traveled over 15 kilometers underground near Kupiansk, coordinating their assault with surface advances and drone strikes. Gwara Media reported that the defense forces advanced more than 15 km to the rear of the Russians in Kupyansk region, passing through underground communications. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports focused on the underground counter-offensive and its tactical implications. ZN.UA reported that Ukrainian military sabotaged an attempt by Russians to enter the Kupyansk rear through an underground counter-offensive of 15 km. Portfolio stated that Ukrainian soldiers advanced about 15 kilometers through underground gas pipelines to get behind Russian forces in the Kupyansk area, citing the Kyiv Independent and the 2nd Corps of the Ukrainian National Guard. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 7 - unknown: 11 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [T&T](https://tekniikkatalous.fi/uutiset/a/650f2fb8-ee89-48e7-8b9b-27e27c1a8734) — Ukraine: We Carried Out a 15-Kilometer Counterattack – Underground - [Klix](https://klix.ba/vijesti/svijet/ukrajinski-vojnici-prosli-vise-od-15-km-kroz-plinovod-i-izbili-iza-ruskih-polozaja-kod-kupjanska/261022106) — Ukrainian Soldiers Advance More than 15 Km Through the Gas Pipeline and Break Through Behind Russian Positions Near Kupyansk - [jauns.lv](https://jauns.lv/raksts/arzemes/734559-ukrainas-aizsavji-kupjanskas-virziena-istenojusi-operaciju-veles-sagadajot-okupantiem-nepatikamu-parsteigumu) — Ukrainian Defenders Have Carried Out Operation "Veles" in the Direction of Kupyansk, Giving the Occupiers an Unpleasant Surprise. - [1news.com.ua](https://1news.com.ua/podii/hartiya-realizuvala-pershyj-kontrnastup-pid-zemleyu-podrobytsi-operatsiyi-veres-na-harkivshhyni-video.html) — “Charter” Implemented the First Counteroffensive Underground: Details of the Veres Operation in Kharkiv Region - [Telegrafi](https://telegrafi.com/ukraina-zbulon-detaje-nga-operacioni-ne-kupiansk-forcat-perparuan-mbi-15-kilometra-permes-rrugeve-nentokesore) — Ukraine Reveals Details of the Operation in Kupiansk, Forces Advanced over 15 Kilometers Through Underground Roads - [Portfolio](https://portfolio.hu/global/20261022/elkepeszto-akciot-hajtottak-vegre-az-ukranok-moszkvatol-lestek-el-a-trukkot-871462) — The Ukrainians Carried Out an Amazing Operation: They Spied on the Trick From Moscow - [rijekadanas.com](https://rijekadanas.com/video-ukrajinci-kopirali-rusku-taktiku-prosli-15-kilometara-pod-zemljom-i-iznenadili-ruske-snage) — VIDEO Ukrainians Copied Russian Tactics: They Went 15 Kilometers Underground and Surprised Russian Forces - [rmf24.pl](https://rmf24.pl/fakty/swiat/news-zolnierze-pokonali-15-km-w-gazociagach-ukrainska-operacja-na,nIdn,1022995) — Soldiers Cover 15 Km of Gas Pipelines. Ukrainian Operation on an Unprecedented Scale - [IndexHR](https://index.hr/vijesti/clanak/video-ukrajinci-kopirali-rusku-taktiku-otisli-smo-pod-zemlju/2848508.aspx) — VIDEO Ukrainians: We Made Our Way 15 Km Through Pipes and Captured Russian Soldiers - [Rzeczpospolita](https://rp.pl/konflikty-zbrojne/art45378501-ukraincy-przeprowadzili-kontrofensywe-pod-ziemia-pierwsza-taka-operacja-na-swiecie) — Ukrainians Launched an Underground Counteroffensive. "The First Operation of Its Kind in the World" - [Kyiv Post](https://kyivpost.com/post/87836) — ‘We Outplayed Them’: Ukraine Claims First Underground Counteroffensive - [charter97.org](https://charter97.org/ru/news/2026/10/22/702748) — "Kharthia" Carried Out an Underground Counter-Offensive "Veles" Under Kupansk - [Unknown](https://glavcom.ua/country/incidents/ukrajinski-vijskovi-pronikli-v-til-rosijan-pid-zemleju-1150746.html) — Ukrainian Military Infiltrated the Rear of the Russians Underground - [armyinform.com.ua](https://armyinform.com.ua/2026/10/22/%c2%abvidshtovhnuly-rosiyan-yaki-prosochuvalysya-gazogonom%c2%bb%c2%a0%e2%80%94-v%c2%a0kup%e2%80%99yansku-pid-chas-pidzemnoyi-operacziyi-znyshhyly-ponad-100-okupantiv) — “The Russians Who Were Soaked in Gas Were Repelled” — More than 100 Occupiers Were Destroyed in Kupyansk During an Underground Operation - [ТСН.ua](https://tsn.ua/ukrayina/ukrayinski-viyska-vpershe-u-sviti-pishly-u-pidzemnyy-kontrnastup-prorvalys-na-kilometry-3196487.html) — Ukrainian Troops Went on an Underground Counteroffensive for the First Time in the World: They Broke Through for Kilometers - [ZN.UA Зеркало недели](https://zn.ua/war/podzemnoe-kontrnastuplenie-na-15-km-ukrainskie-voennye-sorvali-popytku-rossijan-vyjti-v-tyl-kupjanska.html) — Underground Counter-Offensive at 15 Km: Ukrainian Military Sabotaged an Attempt by Russians to Enter the Kupyansk Rear. - [LB.ua](https://en.lb.ua/news/2026/10/22/46182_khartiia_carries_out_underground.html) — Khartiia Carries Out Underground Counter-Offensive on the Kupiansk Front - [Gwara](https://gwaramedia.com/pidzemna-kontrnastupalna-operacziya-veles-sili-oboroni-prosunulisya-na-ponad-15-km-v-til-rosiyan-na-kupyanshhini) — The Defense Forces Advanced More than 15 Km to the Rear of the Russians in Kupyansk Region ## Questions **How far did Ukrainian forces advance underground?** Ukrainian forces advanced over 15 kilometers through underground communications in the Kupyansk direction as part of Operation 'Veles'. This advance allowed them to penetrate the rear of Russian positions. **What were the reported casualties and captures?** According to Ukrainian claims, over 30 Russian soldiers were captured during the operation. Russian forces reportedly suffered more than 100 casualties. These figures have not been independently confirmed. **What was the nature of Operation 'Veles'?** Operation 'Veles' was an underground counter-offensive conducted by Ukrainian forces in the Kupyansk direction. It involved advancing through subterranean communications and was coordinated with surface units and drone strikes. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/ukraine-forces-advance-15km-underground-in-kupyansk-operation. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Ukraine forces advance 15km underground in Kupyansk operation", https://mediabias.news/conflict/ukraine-forces-advance-15km-underground-in-kupyansk-operation