Russia is digging tunnels to keep moving under skies Ukraine controls. Underground passages up to 150 meters long now run through 20-30% of the occupied left bank of Kherson Oblast, and Russian forces on the river have switched from frontal attacks to a “hybrid” positional war, the chief of staff of Ukraine’s 34th Separate Marine Brigade, Alim Kerimov, told Krym.Realii.

Kerimov frames the change as the mark of failed offensives: Russia has slashed its ground assaults, all but abandoned Dnipro boat crossings, and leaned into bombarding Kherson’s civilians. Meanwhile, Ukrainian marines hold islands in the delta and claim to be pushing forward. As of late 2026, Russian forces control over 70% of Kherson Oblast, but its main city, Kherson, remains under Ukrainian control.

Fewer assaults, more terror

Russia has cut back its assaults and river crossings on the Dnipro axis and intensified artillery, drone, and aviation strikes, Kerimov said.

In 2025, there were up to 700 assault sorties by occupiers. Now it’s 150-200 a year. Last year, the Russians had up to 200 sorties on boats, and in the last six months, about 22.

"Why did Russia switch to a more positional hybrid war? It understands that all his offensive operations end in failure. And it simply turns to terror of civilians,” he said.

However, Russia doesn't give up its attempt to recapture Kherson, liberated in 2022. On 22 October, Russia’s amphibious landing attempt of the last offensive campaign was wiped out, with one Russian killed and three captured.

Kherson’s Governor Oleksandr Prokudin says Russia now launches up to 6,500 drone attacks a week at the region, which he also calls deliberate terror against civilians.

Tunnels under the airspace

The passages let Russian troops move where Ukraine holds the sky, according to Kerimov. His brigade hunts them around the clock.

“All these shelters and tunnels are detected and destroyed at once. For example, Oleshky, I wouldn’t say they have an extensive system there,” he stated.

There are stretches, somewhere around 20-30% of the total, on the left bank, he continued.

"That is, sections where they run, try to walk, then move into a tunnel. We have this picture, and we work in this direction day and night," he said, naming Oleshky, an occupied town on the left bank opposite Kherson.

Russian drone launch points sit 5 to 15 kilometers deep into the occupied bank.

Marines hold the islands

Despite the pressure, Ukrainian marines keep positions in the Dnipro’s island zone and are advancing, Kerimov noted, without giving coordinates.

“We have many positions on the left bank, where rotations are conducted on a permanent basis. And we are advancing in this island zone overall, and in a certain settlement on the left bank,” he said.

The advance, he added, is happening in several directions at once.