Full Breakdown
Ukraine’s Fourth Phase of Operation Vivaldi Recaptures 101 sq km in Donetsk
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Background & Context
Operation Vivaldi, launched by Ukraine’s Third Army Corps, is a multi-stage counteroffensive aimed at pushing Russian forces out of the Donbas “fortress belt” that includes Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka. The third phase, concluded in late September, saw the liberation of several villages and the restoration of control over key settlements. The fourth phase, focused on the Lyman sector of Donetsk Oblast, follows a pattern of rapid, large-scale assaults intended to disrupt Russian logistics before the winter months, when Russia is expected to concentrate on urban footholds.
Core Event: Fourth-Phase Gains
In the latest stage, the Third Army Corps and attached units announced the liberation of three villages—Zelena Dolyna, Lypove and Kolodiazi—recovering an additional 101 square kilometres of territory. Ukrainian officials said Russian forces suffered roughly 3,000 casualties during this push, while Ukraine’s advance prevented the enemy from cutting a critical supply route that runs through the Donbas region.
Data & Statistics
- Territory reclaimed in this stage: 101 sq km.
- Russian casualties reported for the stage: ?3,000 soldiers.
- Cumulative results of Operation Vivaldi to date: 16 settlements liberated, 277 sq km (106 sq mi) regained, and 8,000 Russian soldiers reported killed.
Official Statements & Responses
The corps’ Telegram announcement emphasized that the offensive “thwarted the Zapad grouping” and shifted Russian combat capabilities in the area.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We prevented the enemy from outflanking the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration and encircling it, and we also secured the Kharkiv–Sloviansk highway. The enemy failed to cut off a key logistical artery serving our forces in the Donbas. We disrupted the offensive by the Zapad (West) grouping and forced it to redeploy some units of the 1st Tank Army, which eased the pressure on Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi,” — Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi