Russian soldiers crawl through pipelines to escape deadly Ukrainian drones
Russain soldier in the pipe near Sudzha, Kursk Oblast, March 2025 (Photo: Два майора / Telegram)
Russian troops are continuing to use pipelines in a desperate attempt to hide from Ukrainian drones and advance unnoticed, Lt. Col. Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for the Joint Forces, reported on national television on Feb. 12.
"The enemy is trying to advance by any means necessary, though their options are severely limited," he said.
"It’s a choice: either you crawl through the snow under drones, or you try to use whatever cover the terrain offers."
"A pipe is a terrain feature that gives you a chance to move and emerge elsewhere," Trehubov explained.
"That is why Russian middle-level commanders are using pipes, ordering their men to crawl in there so they can at least try to accumulate in small groups somewhere."
He added that while the tactic is not particularly effective, "it is simply more effective than doing it directly in the snow."
This is not an isolated strategy of Russian invaders.
On Jan. 7, Trehubov reported that Russian forces were attempting to use gas pipes for covert movement, though they usually came under fire immediately upon exiting.
On Feb. 10, the 8th Corps of the Air Assault Forces reported that Russian invaders made a second attempt to break through Ukrainian defense in Sumy Oblast using a gas pipe. However, thanks to reconnaissance, Ukrainian defenders had advance intelligence on the movement and were able to neutralize the threat preemptively.
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