Putin praises troops behind secret ‘pipeline operation’

Moscow’s swift offensive in the Kursk Region, including the now-famous Potok (“Flow”) operation, has helped cut Ukrainian supply lines, leaving Kiev’s forces nearly encircled and in disarray, Russian President Vladimir Putin was told during a visit to a command post in the area on Wednesday.

Russia has recently intensified its counteroffensive in the Kursk Region, which was invaded by Ukrainian forces in August 2024. Reporting to the commander-in-chief on the operation’s progress, Chief of the General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov highlighted the “heroic actions” of the combined assault unit of the Veterans volunteer detachment.

“The assault team of this combined formation, numbering more than 600 people, used a gas transmission pipe to cover a distance of about 15 kilometers and infiltrate the combat formations of the armed forces of Ukraine,” Gerasimov reported.

The clandestine raid, dubbed by the media as Operation Potok (“Flow”), marked a shift from the prolonged positional phase in Kursk. A specially trained unit infiltrated Ukrainian positions by moving through an abandoned gas pipeline that once transported Russian gas to Europe until Kiev shut it down on January 1, 2025.

“These actions came as a surprise to the enemy and contributed to the collapse of its defenses and the development of our offensive in the Kursk Region,” Gerasimov added.

Putin praised the Veterans, which included personnel from the 11th Airborne Assault Brigade, the 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment, and the Akhmat special forces detachment, for their “audacity and efficiency.” He also commended more than a dozen other units and detachments participating in the liberation of the Kursk Region.

The pipeline mission was carefully planned for months and executed in early March. The journey through the pipeline was arduous, as soldiers spent several days navigating the confined, poorly ventilated space. Oxygen supply was a major concern, with residual gas in the pipeline making breathing difficult. Engineering teams installed makeshift ventilation systems and drilled air holes to provide relief. Fighters moved in small groups, spaced out to maintain a steady flow of oxygen, while supplies such as water and essential equipment were transported on carts.

After days of waiting near exit points, Russian forces launched their assault on March 8. Exiting through pre-prepared openings, they quickly took control of key positions. Ukrainian forces, caught off guard, attempted resistance but were either eliminated or forced to flee, abandoning equipment and supplies. Russian reinforcements, including armored vehicles, soon arrived to consolidate gains.

This was not the first time Russian forces employed pipeline infiltration tactics. A similar method was used in January 2024, when Russian scouts infiltrated Ukrainian positions in Avdeevka, Donetsk People’s Republic, via an abandoned pipeline.