(KYIV, UKRAINE) – A growing network of resistance groups in occupied Ukraine and inside Russia is posing a major challenge to the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s war effort. These underground movements are increasing in scale and coordination, according to several reports from Ukrainian and international media outlets.
Supporters of Ukraine living under Russian occupation, and Russians opposed to the war, are increasingly involved in sabotage operations, intelligence gathering, and targeted attacks. Analysts say these activities are forcing Moscow to divert resources and reveal serious gaps in its internal security control.
A December report by Euromaidan Press highlighted that these resistance operations stretch from Melitopol to Moscow. The strikes, once occasional, are now frequent and strategically aligned with Ukraine’s wider military objectives.
In Melitopol, a region controlled by Russian forces since the early stages of the invasion, partisans attempted in November to destroy a vehicle carrying a Russian drone team. While that strike failed, earlier attacks in the area have successfully targeted Russian officials and military assets. Russia has responded with harsh sentences, including 20 years to life in prison for three accused resistance members in June, but activity continues.
Further north in occupied Luhansk, explosives placed under two Russian vehicles killed four soldiers in November. Similar tactics were used in Kherson in May, where four pro Russian Chechen fighters died after a vehicle explosion. Analysts say these repeated attacks show the resistance can identify and reach high value targets.
Crimea has also seen underground action. Ukrainian infiltrators recorded aircraft takeoffs from Saky Airbase, providing Ukrainian intelligence with real time operational data about Russian jets stationed there. Such information could guide future strikes.
These operations are forcing Russia to adjust troop deployments and logistics. Even a single destroyed military vehicle can disrupt scheduled offensives, while accumulated disruptions reduce the effectiveness of Russian military planning.
Some sabotage has also moved deep into Russia. In Kursk, a partisan group known as Black Spark reportedly destroyed a transport vehicle used for Iskander ballistic missiles and damaged a radar system supporting local air defence. This may make it harder for Russia to launch missile attacks from border regions or to defend against incoming Ukrainian strikes.
Other sabotage actions in the Bashkortostan and Vologda regions targeted communication towers and railway signalling. Russia relies heavily on its rail network to move troops and equipment toward the front. Even temporary interruptions can create delays that weaken its battlefield operations.
Authorities in Russia have described many of these incidents as unexplained technical problems, despite the growing number of similar attacks. Reports suggest that local officials lack effective methods to prevent or detect resistance activities, particularly in rural and industrial areas.
A major incident in Moscow on 1 November targeted the Ring pipeline that transports jet fuel, gasoline and diesel. Drones struck the infrastructure site, and some reports suggest that infiltrators operating inside Moscow helped identify and prepare the target area for Ukrainian forces.
Intelligence analysis indicates that Ukraine’s defence agencies are coordinating with partisan groups, enabling attacks that regular forces cannot execute without crossing heavily defended Russian lines.
Experts believe the Russian dictator underestimated the long term impact of civilian opposition. Resistance groups in Russia were initially small organisations expressing anti war sentiment using symbols such as green ribbons. Over time, they developed capabilities including 3D printing for equipment, cyber activities, and clandestine logistics support. As the war has continued, some groups have evolved into active saboteurs.
By early 2025, according to the Atlantic Council, an extensive network of civil resistance activists, partisans, and special forces was conducting information and sabotage tasks across occupied Ukraine. The same pattern is now emerging inside Russia, involving groups such as Freedom of Russia and the Russian Volunteer Corps.
These fighters often hold Russian citizenship, including some residents of Crimea who were forced to adopt Russian passports in 2014. Their legal status may allow them to move across borders with less scrutiny, helping them deliver supplies or gather intelligence in sensitive areas.
The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) has documented the evolution of resistance operations from attacks on recruitment offices during the early stages of the invasion to strategic strikes on Russia’s critical infrastructure network in 2025.
Their findings suggest that the underground campaign has become a sustained proxy war operating behind the frontlines.
While these acts alone are unlikely to end the conflict, they are slowing Russia’s campaign and increasing costs. Every disrupted supply route, destroyed vehicle, or loss of fuel creates additional obstacles to Russian planning. The threat of sabotage also forces Russia to keep more forces in defensive roles far from the battlefield.
Key Resistance Activity
| Location | Target | Result | Source Noted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melitopol | Vehicle carrying drone crew | Failed explosion attempt | Euromaidan Press |
| Luhansk | Two military vehicles | 4 Russian soldiers killed | Ukrainian media |
| Kherson | Chechen officers’ vehicle | 4 pro Russian troops killed | Kyiv Independent |
| Crimea (Saky) | Airbase reconnaissance | Jet identification for future strikes | Euromaidan Press |
| Kursk | Ballistic missile vehicle and radar | Assets destroyed, defences weakened | Ukrainian SSO report |
| Moscow region | Ring pipeline facility | Major drone strike disruption | Kyiv Independent |
Investigators say sabotage incidents are now recorded from Moscow to the Urals, suggesting widespread discontent among Russians opposed to the war.
Analysts warn that many more attacks will follow as resistance grows in strength, skill and coordination. The underground networks are becoming a permanent and unpredictable part of the conflict, adding a new dimension that Russia struggles to control.
