29 Russian Soldiers Killed In Attempted Sumy Gas Line Infiltration

A rational military strategist would be forgiven for assuming that - if his enemy had tried to use underground gas pipelines to infiltrate behind an opponent's positions, but had failed not just once, but every time the tactic was attempted - they would then draw the conclusion that it was an interesting idea but one from which they should move on and try something else. Such a rational strategist, though, would evidently not get very far in the Russian army. 

The Russians tried to infiltrate Ukrainian positions in Sumy oblast using just such a gas pipeline. That they had tried to use the very same pipeline before - and failed - does not seem to have deterred them. And once again, the hapless Russian soldiers forced into this attack were quickly spotted. 29 of them were then killed. JL

Tanya Myronyshena reports in the Kyiv Independent:

Twenty-nine Russian soldiers attempted to infiltrate Ukrainian rear positions via a gas pipeline in Sumy Oblast but were detected and killed, Ukraine’s 71st Airmobile Brigade reported April 14. It was not the first such attempt in the area, with Russian forces using the same route before despite heavy losses. Russian forces have used large pipelines on several occasions in their war against Ukraine, including during the battle of Avdiivka, Sudzha in Kursk Oblast, and more recently, Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast. "The real goal of the occupiers appears to be ‘self-demilitarization,’"

Twenty-nine Russian soldiers attempted to infiltrate Ukrainian rear positions via a gas pipeline in Sumy Oblast but were detected and killed, Ukraine’s 71st Separate Airmobile Brigade of the Air Assault Forces reported on Telegram on April 14.

According to the brigade, the group tried to exploit poor weather conditions and limited visibility to breach Ukrainian defenses.

It was not the first such attempt in the area, with Russian forces reportedly using the same route before despite sustaining heavy losses.

"The real goal of the occupiers appears to be ‘self-demilitarization,’" the brigade added.

Russian forces have used large pipelines on several occasions in their war against Ukraine, including during the final stages of the battle of Avdiivka, Sudzha in Kursk Oblast, and more recently, Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast.

Built during the Soviet era, the pipelines are used to infiltrate behind Ukrainian positions, and are often surprisingly difficult to destroy even after detection.

This latest attempt comes amid continued pressure along the state border with Sumy Oblast, where Russian forces have been probing Ukrainian defenses, turning much of the border area into a contested grey zone.

On April 13, Ukrainian forces withdrew from positions near Myropilske in Sumy Oblast to a more defensible line. 

Russian forces have also advanced in small settlements further north, including Yunakivka and Andriivka, while increasingly deploying FPV drones capable of striking closer to Sumy.