Ukraine Claims Major Battlefield Gains in ‘Operation Vivaldi’

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Ukraine Concludes Operation Vivaldi with 277 Square Kilometers Retaken

   Ukraine has completed Operation Vivaldi, a four-phase counteroffensive in the Donetsk region that retook 277 square kilometers of territory. According to United24 Media, the operation eliminated 8,000 Russian troops and weakened three Russian armies. The final stage saw the liberation of the villages of Zelena Dolyna, Lypove, and Kolodiazi, with the Third Army Corps reporting an additional 101 square kilometers reclaimed and 3,000 Russian casualties during this phase. Ukrainian forces utilized a combination of artillery and drones to secure these gains and repel Russian counterattacks.

   Why it matters

   The operation began in mid-September near Lyman, Donetsk. It serves as a test of Ukraine's ability to maneuver and hold ground on a battlefield dominated by drones. The success of the offensive suggests a shift in tactical capabilities despite ongoing Russian missile attacks on infrastructure.

   What is confirmed

   • Ukraine retook 277 square kilometers of territory during Operation Vivaldi.
   • The counteroffensive took place in the Donetsk region near Lyman.
   • Operation Vivaldi consisted of four distinct phases.
   • Ukrainian forces used artillery to hold gains and stop Russian counterattacks.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Russia lost 8,000 troops during the operation.
   • Three Russian armies were weakened by the offensive.
   • The fourth stage of the operation resulted in 3,000 Russian soldier losses.
   • Ukraine liberated the villages of Zelena Dolyna, Lypove, and Kolodiazi.

   What to watch next

   • Russian military response to the loss of territory near Lyman
   • Further reports on the status of the three weakened Russian armies
   • Confirmation of territorial gains from independent satellite imagery
   Sources used for this update (12)

   1. www.businessinsider.com — Ukraine's Operation Vivaldi shows why artillery still matters ...
   2. Business Insider — Ukraine's Operation Vivaldi shows why artillery still matters in a drone fight
   3. Homeland Security Today — What Ukraine's Operation Vivaldi Counteroffensive Means for America's Critical Infrastructure
   4. UNITED24 Media — Ukraine Gains Ground Near Sumy as Russian Offensives Fail to Break Through Elsewhere
   5. Reuters — Ukraine says it frees more territory in Donetsk region counteroffensive
   6. theconversation.com — Operation Vivaldi: success of Ukraine’s counteroffensive shows it has learned to manoeuvre on a drone‑filled battlefield
   7. Newsweek — Ukraine Claims Major Battlefield Gains in ‘Operation Vivaldi’
   8. www.newsweek.com — Ukraine claims major battlefield gains in "Operation Vivaldi"
   9. asiatimes.com — Operation Vivaldi: Ukrainian gain on a drone-filled battlefield
   10. kyivindependent.com — Operation Vivaldi's 'Fourth Season' — Ukraine retakes another ...
   11. united24media.com — Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi Ends: 277 km² Retaken, 8,000 ...
   12. www.atlanticcouncil.org — Ukraine reports more battlefield gains as Putin’s invasion ...
   confidence 85%