Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The operation also reclaimed nearly six square kilometers of territory
In Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, military intelligence commandos recently wrapped up a high-stakes border mission.
Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate, known as HUR, confirmed on Telegram that the GROUP 10 special operations unit spearheaded seven weeks of heavy fighting.
Ukrainian commanders launched the raid to foil Russian offensive plans and prevent Moscow’s forces from cutting off Ukrainian supply routes, making speed an important component in the operation.
During the seven-week assault, Ukrainian operators pounded 1,100 Russian targets across the area. Intelligence officials reported that the team killed 108 Russian soldiers and captured 29 prisoners of war, before handing the secured territory over to regular army units.
The information has not been independently verified.
Reclaiming lost ground
The mission also handed Kyiv a measurable win on the ground. By the time fighting subsided, Ukrainian forces had reclaimed more than 600 hectares of territory, which equals roughly 1,480 acres or six square kilometers of land previously held by Russian troops.
On October 28, HUR published combat footage that showed commandos clearing wooded border positions. Securing those pockets created a fresh buffer against cross-border strikes.
Sumy was not alone. The action formed part of a broader tactical scramble across the northern lines.
Tunnels and drones
Further south near Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, Ukrainian troops carried out a daring push codenamed Operation Veles. Units advanced more than 15 kilometers by slipping through disused gas pipelines to bypass fortified Russian positions.
The surprise tactic caught Moscow off guard. Led by the National Guard’s 2nd Khartiia Corps, brigades and drone teams captured more than 30 Russian soldiers during the subterranean drive.
Senior commanders briefed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the frontline progress on October 27. Pairing quick border strikes with unexpected underground maneuvers gives Kyiv a practical way to keep Moscow’s forces off balance.
