Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared that his country’s armed forces are recapturing territory through a series of successful military offensives, describing Ukraine’s battlefield position as its strongest in considerable time. Speaking on Tuesday evening, Zelenskyy revealed details of a previously undisclosed operation involving underground gas pipelines, while highlighting Ukrainian advances across strategically important areas of the eastern front.
Operation Veles turns Russian tactics against Moscow
The Ukrainian president identified Operation Veles as a significant military success near Kupiansk in the northeastern Kharkiv region.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian forces used underground gas pipelines to bypass Russian defensive positions, reversing a tactic previously employed by Moscow’s troops.
The operation, conducted by Ukraine’s Khartiia forces, demonstrated the country’s ability to combine innovative tactics with advanced battlefield technology.
Kupiansk, recaptured by Ukraine in 2022, remains a strategic objective for Russian forces seeking to regain territory in the northeast.
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Operation Vivaldi strengthens eastern defences
Zelenskyy also highlighted Operation Vivaldi, conducted by Ukraine’s Third Army Corps in the Donetsk region.
The offensive has focused on preventing Russian advances towards Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, two strategically important Ukrainian strongholds.
Ukrainian commanders previously reported clearing approximately 75 square kilometres of Russian infiltration groups and recapturing additional territory.
A separate airborne assault operation reportedly liberated more than 800 square kilometres, according to Ukrainian officials. These battlefield claims have not been independently verified.
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Russia disputes Ukraine’s battlefield narrative
Moscow continues to insist that its forces are advancing along the approximately 1,200-kilometre front line.
Russian military chief Valery Gerasimov recently claimed that Moscow had captured 92 Ukrainian settlements since early September.
Ukraine’s military rejected those claims, illustrating the conflicting accounts surrounding territorial control.
Air defence shortages threaten further progress
Despite his optimistic assessment, Zelenskyy warned that delayed Western military deliveries remain a serious concern.
Ukraine continues to face shortages of Patriot interceptor missiles needed to counter Russian ballistic attacks.
The president argued that stronger and more reliable Western support could substantially improve Ukraine’s military and diplomatic position.
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A potential turning point in the conflict
The latest announcements suggest Ukrainian commanders are increasingly pursuing targeted counteroffensives rather than relying exclusively on defensive operations.
However, Russia retains substantial military resources, and significant territorial disputes remain unresolved.
Whether Ukraine’s reported gains develop into a lasting strategic advantage will depend on its ability to consolidate positions, maintain supplies and withstand continued Russian pressure.
NewsHub Finance | Ukraine War | 28 October 2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared that his country's armed forces are recapturing territory through a series of successful military offensives, describing Ukraine's battlefield position as its strongest in considerable time. Speaking on Tuesday evening, Zelenskyy revealed details of a previously undisclosed operation involving underground gas pipelines, while highlighting Ukrainian advances across strategically important areas of the eastern front.
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