Russians Attempt to Penetrate Sumy Region Again: Unique Defense Unit Disrupts Enemy's Underground Movements - Exclusive Report by NV

In the Sumy region, there are renewed observations of Russian military attempts to infiltrate Ukrainian territory via gas pipelines. Journalist NV Serhiy Okunyev has uncovered the activities of a unique high-tech defense unit specializing in reconnaissance, which is disrupting enemy attempts to move underground. In this exclusive report, we delve into what is happening inside the pipes and how Ukrainian forces are responding to these threats.

A year ago, Russian troops successfully infiltrated the area near the city of Sudzha in the Kursk region through a gas pipeline. This operation became a symbol of Russian propaganda, which touted the 'incredible success' of underground raiders. Since then, fighting has shifted to the border of Sumy, and the occupiers are once again attempting to use the pipes for their purposes.

The operation, known as 'Operation Pipe' or 'Operation Flow,' emerged as one of the products of Russian propaganda during the final phase of the Kursk operation. In March 2025, a grouping of Ukrainian troops in Kursk found itself in a difficult position due to logistical issues and constant enemy fire control. On March 8, Russian propaganda resources claimed for the first time that their soldiers had traversed 15 kilometers through a gas pipeline with a diameter of 1.4 meters, 'emerging behind Ukrainian troops near the city of Sudzha and securing their position.'

However, the data from Russian state-controlled media and testimonies from Ukrainian soldiers differ significantly. According to the Russian myth, the Russians moved over 800 servicemen, who allegedly conducted an 'incredibly successful' attack behind Ukrainian lines, which was touted as a key factor in regaining control of Sudzha for Russia. In contrast, Ukrainian data indicates that the Russians attempted to secretly transfer about 100 infantrymen, some of whom perished due to horrific conditions in the pipe, while others were destroyed at the surface exit point.

This version is corroborated by footage of Ukrainian drone strikes and artillery targeting the exit point from the pipe. The New York Times notes that while the raid through the pipeline is contentious, it 'coincided with breaches of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defenses by Russian troops in several areas of the Kursk region.' Regardless of the truth, the conduct of 'Operation Pipe' and the retreat of Ukrainian forces from Sudzha fueled myths about the success of underground warriors, leading to the popularization of this theme in Russian culture.

In the year following the battles for Sudzha, Russian troops have repeatedly attempted to replicate their actions, including in Sumy. In the summer of 2025, as the situation for the Defense Forces remained precarious, one of Ukraine's high-tech units was redeployed to the Sumy direction.

By the end of February 2026, the Sumy region was blanketed by record snowfall. A soldier from the 425th Separate Battalion of Unmanned Systems, known as 'Eyes,' trudges through snow that reaches over a meter in height near their position. In the soldier's hands is a reconnaissance drone, which is to be launched to detect a significant enemy target on Russian territory and adjust a strike.

Reconnaissance missions using UAVs are conducted by nearly every unit within the Defense Forces, from large brigades to individual battalions or special forces teams. However, they typically conduct reconnaissance within their area of responsibility. In the case of the 'Eyes' battalion, the situation is different. In a bunker hidden beneath layers of earth and snow, NV's journalist and crew closely observe the operation. While details are not disclosed, it can be asserted that the task of adjusting a strike on a target in Russia has been completed, and the reconnaissance aircraft has successfully returned to base.

The 'Eyes' battalion can be considered 'special forces' of reconnaissance, despite not having formal status. Their work encompasses much more than merely observing a forest strip or a road near enemy positions. The 'Eyes' conduct reconnaissance missions over great distances, sometimes exceeding a hundred kilometers. Their targets include enemy air defense systems, large electronic warfare systems, radio-electronic reconnaissance stations, enemy command points, and other critical objects. While detecting and destroying an enemy air defense system is a significant event for a reconnaissance crew of a linear brigade, for the soldiers of the 'Eyes' battalion, it is a routine task.

In January 2026, the 'Eyes' battalion ranked third among all units of the Defense Forces in the Delta reconnaissance system rating, indicating their high performance in target detection and execution of other tasks. The battalion is also responsible for monitoring the pipelines that Russian troops are attempting to use for movement.

The commander of one of the companies in the 'Eyes' battalion, known by the call sign 'Medoid,' explains: 'In fact, there is an entire highway of such pipes running through the territories of Kursk and Sumy, which the enemy has attempted and continues to attempt to use for secret underground movement. All these pipes are well known; they are marked on our maps and reflected in our operational awareness systems. What the enemy claims to be some secret routes that we are unaware of is complete nonsense. To a large extent, these networks are already destroyed, collapsed due to combat actions, and even if the enemy tries to use the pipes, they find themselves in the gray zone between our and their positions.'