Russian occupation forces continue to employ absurd and suicidal tactical maneuvers in their attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses in the north. In the Sumy region, the enemy made yet another attempt to infiltrate the rear of Ukrainian defenders by using an industrial gas pipe and light motor vehicles. However, this bizarre maneuver ended in a crushing defeat for the so-called ‘chimney sweeps.’ According to the 71st Separate Airmobile Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces, which holds the line in this sector, the swift detection of the enemy allowed for the complete elimination of the threat.
The details of this failed operation highlight the sheer lack of logic in the actions of the Russian command. The military reported that the adversary attempted a covert infiltration of sabotage and reconnaissance groups by combining movement through the gas pipe with a rapid advance on ATVs and motorcycles. The primary goal was to quickly cross the open terrain and strike the rear positions of the Ukrainian paratroopers unexpectedly. However, thanks to the flawless coordination among aerial reconnaissance, attack drone operators, and artillery units of the 71st Brigade and adjacent forces, the Russian movement was detected at the deployment stage.
The tactic of using pipes and other subterranean communications is not entirely new for the Russian army; similar methods were previously observed during the battles for Avdiivka, where the enemy tried to crawl through sewage collectors. However, applying this experience to the terrain and conditions of the Sumy region proved to be a fatal miscalculation. Instead of achieving the element of surprise, the occupiers walked straight into a carefully prepared kill zone. The use of thermal imaging cameras on reconnaissance drones allows the Ukrainian Defense Forces to detect any concentration of manpower, even when the enemy attempts to operate at night or under poor visibility conditions.
The consequences for the occupiers were catastrophic. The 71st Brigade reported that enemy losses in this clash amounted to 35 killed and 17 wounded. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers obliterated the entire enemy motor fleet, destroying three Russian motorcycles and four ATVs. In their official statement, the paratroopers did not hold back their irony: ‘You won’t believe it — but it’s the pipe again. Another attempt to break through via the gas pipe using light equipment — not the first, not the second time, but with the exact same result.’
This episode serves as a stark reminder of how the Russian command continues to send its soldiers to certain death without learning any lessons from previous failures. The military noted that a similar breakthrough attempt was reported by the 71st Brigade less than a week ago, ending in total annihilation. Furthermore, back in February, out of 22 Russians who climbed into the same pipe, only one survived.
The stubbornness with which Russia seeks weak spots in the Ukrainian defense in the Sumy region fits into a broader strategic context. The enemy is trying to stretch the reserves of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. At the same time, the shift from heavy armored vehicles to motorcycles and ATVs is an act of desperation, as the absolute dominance of Ukrainian FPV drones makes traditional mechanized assaults nearly impossible. The defense of the Sumy region remains rock-solid.