Ukraine says over 100 Russian troops killed in pipeline operation as Oleshky ceasefire expands

Melania Trump says ceasefire expanded within Kherson Oblast; Kyiv hit by deadly missile attack

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published27 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Ukrainian forces have eliminated more than 100 Russian soldiers and captured over 30 others in an operation involving underground gas pipelines near Kupiansk, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 27. Separately, a localized ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky has been expanded to cover all of Kherson Oblast, U.S. First Lady Melania Trump announced, as a deadly Russian ballistic missile attack struck Kyiv university, bridge and medical facilities.

President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed details of Operation Veles, an underground advance of more than 15 kilometers (9 miles) near Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast. The operation, carried out by the National Guard's 2nd Khartiia Corps alongside other Ukrainian units, targeted Russian rear positions. Zelensky said Ukrainian warriors had transformed a tactic previously attempted by Russian forces.

The operation followed earlier Russian attempts to use gas pipelines to cross the Oskil River in September, according to Ukrainian battlefield monitoring group DeepState.

Meanwhile, a ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky has been expanded within Kherson Oblast, Trump said in a social media post on Oct. 27. The ceasefire, which began in the early hours of the morning, initially covered Oleshky and surrounding areas and is meant to allow safe evacuation of civilians and delivery of humanitarian aid. Tetiana Shelest, head of communications for Ukraine's human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, told reporters it now covered the entirety of Kherson Oblast. Lubinets said the ceasefire was being fully honored by both sides as of 5:30 p.m. The ceasefire will last until Nov. 1, according to parliamentary leader David Arakhamia. The agreements were reached in negotiations with Yana Lantratova, head of the Russian negotiating team.

In Kyiv, Russian ballistic missiles struck a university campus, the Southern Bridge over the Dnipro River, an administrative building and medical facilities overnight on Oct. 26-27. At least one person was killed and 15 were injured, including a paramedic, a medical technician and a 20-year-old university student. President Zelensky said a university campus was hit alongside Kyiv's Kyoto park and residential buildings. Education minister Andriy Butenko said the Russian attack damaged buildings and dormitories of the State University of Trade and Economics, with no deaths among students or employees. He called the attack terrorism.

Ukrainian postal and courier company Nova Poshta has started its own private air defense force and shot down Russian attack drones targeting its facilities, co-owner Vyacheslav Klymov revealed at the Kyiv International Economic Forum on Oct. 26. He said the company had destroyed Shahed drones.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The Oleshky ceasefire offers a rare window for civilian evacuation and humanitarian aid delivery in a region that has been blockaded since the early days of the full-scale invasion.
The pipeline operation near Kupiansk demonstrates Ukrainian tactical innovation and could signal a shift in battlefield dynamics in the Kharkiv region.
The Kyiv missile attack underscores Russia's continued strategy of mass aerial strikes against civilian infrastructure, despite diplomatic efforts.

Background

The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Oleshky, located across the Dnipro River from Kherson city, has been under Russian occupation since the early days of the war, with residents facing severe shortages of food, water and electricity. The Kupiansk area in Kharkiv Oblast has seen heavy fighting, with both sides seeking control of key supply routes.

Key Perspectives

President Volodymyr Zelensky: reported that Ukrainian forces eliminated more than 100 Russian soldiers and captured over 30 others in Operation Veles, involving an underground advance of more than 15 kilometers through gas pipelines near Kupiansk. U.S. First Lady Melania Trump: announced that a localized ceasefire in Oleshky had been expanded within Kherson Oblast to protect civilians and facilitate aid delivery, with the timing accelerated by two days. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's human rights ombudsman: said the ceasefire was being fully honored by both sides as of 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 27 and expressed hope that civilians in Oleshky would receive assistance. Education minister Andriy Butenko: condemned the Russian missile attack on Kyiv as terrorism, saying the enemy directs missiles at educational institutions without pity or humanity. Vyacheslav Klymov, co-owner of Nova Poshta: revealed that the company had started its own private air defense force and shot down Shahed drones targeting its facilities.

What to Watch

Whether the ceasefire holds until Nov. 1 and allows safe evacuation of civilians from Oleshky.
Russian military response to the Ukrainian pipeline operation near Kupiansk.
Repair timeline for Kyiv's Southern Bridge, a crucial traffic artery for hundreds of thousands of commuters.

Sources

Ukraine war latest: Zelensky reveals details of 'Operation Veles' · Kyiv Independent

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedThe headline says more than 100 Russian troops were killed in the pipeline operation.Kyiv Independent: “Ukrainian forces "eliminated" more than 100 Russian soldiers and captured more than 30 others during an operation involving underground gas pipelines near Kupiansk”
SupportedThe headline says the Oleshky ceasefire expanded.Kyiv Independent: “A localized ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky has been "expanded… within Kherson (Oblast)," U.S. First Lady Melania Trump said in a post on social media on Oct. 27.”
SupportedThe summary says Melania Trump reported that the ceasefire expanded within Kherson Oblast.Kyiv Independent: “A localized ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky has been "expanded… within Kherson (Oblast)," U.S. First Lady Melania Trump said in a post on social media on Oct. 27.”
SupportedThe summary says Kyiv was hit by a deadly missile attack.Kyiv Independent: “Russian ballistic missiles targeted Kyiv in a deadly attack overnight on Oct. 26-27, striking a university campus, a major bridge, an administrative building, and medical facilities.”
Partly supportedThe opening says Melania Trump announced that the ceasefire covered all of Kherson Oblast.Kyiv Independent: “Trump did not specify the extent of the expanded ceasefire but Tetiana Shelest, head of communications for Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, told reporters it now covered the entirety of Kherson Oblast.”
SupportedZelensky said Ukrainian forces eliminated more than 100 Russian soldiers in the pipeline operation near Kupiansk on Oct. 27.Kyiv Independent: “Ukrainian forces "eliminated" more than 100 Russian soldiers and captured more than 30 others during an operation involving underground gas pipelines near Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 27.”
SupportedUkrainian forces captured more than 30 Russian soldiers in the operation.Kyiv Independent: “Ukrainian forces "eliminated" more than 100 Russian soldiers and captured more than 30 others during an operation involving underground gas pipelines near Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast”
SupportedOperation Veles involved an underground advance of more than 15 kilometres near Kupiansk.Kyiv Independent: “The operation, code-named "Veles," involved an underground advance of more than 15 kilometers (9 miles), according to Zelensky.”
SupportedDeepState reported that Russian forces used a gas pipeline to cross the Oskil River in September.Kyiv Independent: “On Sept. 12, Ukrainian battlefield monitoring group DeepState reported that Russian troops had used a gas pipeline to cross the Oskil River and penetrate Ukrainian defenses near Kupiansk.”
SupportedThe Oleshky ceasefire initially covered Oleshky and surrounding areas and was intended to enable civilian evacuation and humanitarian aid delivery.Kyiv Independent: “The ceasefire, which came into effect in the early hours of the morning, initially covered Oleshky and surrounding areas in Kherson Oblast and is meant to allow the safe evacuation of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid over the coming days.”
SupportedThe Kyiv attack killed at least one person and injured 15, including a paramedic, a medical technician and a 20-year-old university student.Kyiv Independent: “At least one person was killed, and 15 people have been injured in the latest Russian attack, Ukraine's State Emergency Service (DSNS) said. Those injured in the attack include a paramedic, a medical technician, and a 20-year-old university student.”
SupportedNova Poshta started its own private air-defense force and shot down Russian attack drones targeting its facilities.Kyiv Independent: “Ukrainian postal and courier company Nova Poshta has started its own private air defense force and shot down Russian attack drones targeting their facilities”