Russian troops forced onto rafts and boats toward Kupiansk after pipeline blown up
Photo: Ukrainian Armed Forces unsure if Russians will restore pipeline (Getty Images)
Russian troops are trying to break through to Kupiansk on boats and rafts across the Oskil River, as the Ukrainian Armed Forces blew up the gas pipeline through which the Russian militants were advancing to the city, the commander of the 429th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems Achilles, Yuriy Fedorenko, reported in a comment to Suspilne.
"At the moment, the issue with the gas pipeline has been resolved by the Defense Forces. It was blown up. But whether the enemy will be able to restore it a second time… Because this is not the first time we have disabled it," said the commander.
According to him, because the pipeline is located on temporarily occupied territory, our military cannot dig it out.
"Because the enemy constantly influences it using their artillery means, drones, and so on. But it was possible to damage it with firepower," Fedorenko added.
As a result, the enemy is now forced to increase movement across the Oskil River again, according to previous scenarios, on boats and rafts.
The Russian forces’ goal is to bypass Kupiansk along the north-western outskirts and advance as far as possible into the city itself.
Earlier, it was reported that the occupation of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region is a strategic goal of the Russians in the area, and they partially succeeded in breaking through to the city.
The enemy uses gas pipelines to enter Kupiansk. This is how the Russians cross the Oskil River.
RBC-Ukraine wrote about Russia’s intentions to capture Kupiansk in the autumn-winter period in the material "Russia's fall offensive: Where enemy may strike and possible dangers for Ukraine."
