Full Breakdown
Ukraine’s Third Army Corps Advances in the Third Phase of Operation Vivaldi
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Background & Context
Operation Vivaldi, a Ukrainian counter-offensive in northern Donetsk Oblast, was publicly announced on September 15 by Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi, commander of the Third Army Corps. The operation is described as having four “seasons,” with the first two phases announced in mid-September. Earlier phases cleared 75 km of Russian positions and liberated several settlements, setting the stage for the current push toward the Lyman axis.
Core Event – Third Phase Gains (September 28)
On September 28, the Third Army Corps reported recapturing 51 square kilometres and five settlements—Nove, Ridkodub, Katerynivka, Karpivka and Novomykhailivka—bringing the total reclaimed since the start of Vivaldi to 176 km². The main objective of this phase was the capture of Nove, a key Russian hub on the bridgehead.
Data & Statistics
- Territory reclaimed in third phase: 51 km² (total 176 km²).
- Russian personnel losses claimed by the corps: ? 2,000 killed and > 250 captured.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky reported ? 10,660 Russian troops killed or wounded across all active fronts during the same week; Kyiv Post could not independently verify these figures.
- Unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) cleared 30 km of routes in the Shandryholove area in two nights, a task that would have required two engineer companies a week. UGVs are reported to remove about 60 % of anti-personnel mines in the corps’ area of responsibility.
Official Statements & Responses
Brigadier General Biletskyi emphasized deception, saying Russian forces were misled to concentrate reserves along the Shandryholove–Zelena Dolyna axis while the main strike hit Nove. He noted the corps’ effort to minimize infantry casualties by deploying UAVs and UGVs ahead of troops. President Zelensky, referencing a report from Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, affirmed that Ukrainian forces continue to destroy the occupier and achieve set objectives on the Lyman axis, with video evidence supporting reported Russian losses.
On-the-Ground Reports
Local updates confirmed the liberation of Ridkodub, Nove and Katerynivka, and restored full control over Karpivka and Novomykhailivka. The corps described using modified Soviet-era BTR-60 armored personnel carriers converted into remotely operated strike platforms to breach fortified Russian positions.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Zelensky’s casualty figure of 10,660 Russian personnel killed or wounded lacks independent verification; Kyiv Post noted its inability to confirm the number.
- The corps’ claim of ? 2,000 Russian fatalities and > 250 prisoners is attributed solely to the Third Army Corps, with no external corroboration in the provided sources.
Why It Matters
The third phase shows Ukraine’s reliance on deception and unmanned systems to offset Russian numerical advantages. By reclaiming territory and inflicting reported personnel losses, the Third Army Corps aims to erode the Russian salient around Lyman, a point identified by President Vladimir Putin as essential for broader Donbas control. Reduced infantry exposure through UGV deployment may influence future operational planning across the front.
What’s Next
The corps indicated that the use of heavy-bomber-deployed ground robots, first reported in late September, represents a new tactical capability that will be expanded in subsequent phases of Operation Vivaldi. Further operational steps were discussed jointly by President Zelensky and Commander-in-Chief Drapatyi, though specific future actions were not detailed in the sources.