Ukraine liberates three villages in northern Donetsk Oblast during Operation "Vivaldi"
Ukrainian Defense Forces have liberated the villages of Shandryholove, Derylove, and Drobysheve in northern Donetsk Oblast as part of Operation "Vivaldi" on the Lyman direction. Commanders say Ukrainian troops cleared around 125 square kilometers of territory and inflicted more than 3,000 Russian casualties across the operation's first two stages.
Key points
- Villages of Shandryholove, Derylove, and Drobysheve liberated in northern Donetsk Oblast on the Lyman direction.
- Operation "Vivaldi" has been ongoing throughout the current year on the Lyman direction.
- Across the first and second stages, Ukrainian forces cleared approximately 125 sq. km of territory, of which 50 sq. km were de-occupied.
- During the second stage, more than 800 Russian military personnel were destroyed; total Russian losses across both stages exceeded 3,000 personnel.
- The 3rd Army Corps, led by Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky, is wearing down the offensive potential of Russia's 1st Tank Army, 20th Army, and 25th Army.
- The 3rd Army Corps is reported as the first in the world to deploy ground robotic complexes, with heavy bombers delivering kamikaze ground robotic complexes more than 10 km into the enemy's rear.
- First-stage gains included Novoselivka, Oleksandrivka, Yarova, the outskirts of Korovii Yar, and Serednie.
Why it matters
Operation "Vivaldi" represents a sustained Ukrainian offensive that has recovered significant territory in northern Donetsk Oblast on the Lyman direction. The 3rd Army Corps's reported use of ground robotic complexes for the first time worldwide points to a shift in Ukrainian tactics on this sector of the front. Reported Russian losses of more than 3,000 personnel across the operation's stages and pressure on three Russian armies indicate the offensive is degrading the offensive potential of Russian formations in the area.
What happened
Ukrainian Defense Forces liberated the villages of Shandryholove, Derylove, and Drobysheve in northern Donetsk Oblast as part of the ongoing Operation "Vivaldi" on the Lyman direction. According to the 3rd Army Corps, Ukrainian troops cleared around 125 square kilometers of territory across the operation's first two stages, of which 50 square kilometers were de-occupied. Russian losses across both stages exceeded 3,000 personnel, including more than 800 destroyed during the second stage alone. The operation has been running throughout the current year, and during its first stage Ukrainian forces liberated Novoselivka, Oleksandrivka, Yarova, the outskirts of Korovii Yar, and Serednie. The 3rd Army Corps, commanded by Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky, is reported to be simultaneously wearing down the offensive potential of Russia's 1st Tank Army, 20th Army, and 25th Army on the Lyman direction. The second stage was carried out by a combined grouping drawn from the 60th and 125th Mechanized Brigades, the 3rd Assault Brigade's tank group, the KRAKEN assault battalion, reconnaissance and anti-tank battalions of the corps, and attached units from the 66th Mechanized Brigade, an SSO tactical group, the GUR "Artan" special unit, and a border detachment. Artillery and drones struck Russian command posts, communications, logistics, crossings, and reserves, while air defense and electronic warfare created a protective dome over the combat zone. Shandryholove is described as a critical point for both sides, and the most difficult task during the operation was dislodging Russian infantry from well-fortified positions.
Where reporting differs
Sources disagree on the area cleared during Operation "Vivaldi": Yurii Butusov stated that defenders cleared almost 80 square kilometers, while other reporting puts the figure at approximately 125 square kilometers (with 50 square kilometers de-occupied). An earlier statement by 3rd Army Corps commander Andriy Biletsky on September 15 cited 75 sq. km cleared and 10 sq. km de-occupied at that point in the operation. Sources also vary on the number of newly liberated villages: some report two (Shandryholove and Derylove) with DeepState cited as the source, while others add Drobysheve for three, citing the Third Army Corps on Telegram. Butusov's status is described in different ways across reporting — as commander of a UAV platoon in the 23rd Assault Regiment of the 2nd Corps of the National Guard "Khartiia" and journalist in some accounts, and simply as a commander providing operational figures in others.
Background
Operation "Vivaldi" has been ongoing throughout the current year on the Lyman direction in northern Donetsk Oblast. During its first stage, Ukrainian forces liberated Novoselivka, Oleksandrivka, Yarova, the outskirts of Korovii Yar, and Serednie. Shandryholove has been described as a critical point for both sides. The 3rd Army Corps is identified as wearing down the offensive potential of Russia's 1st Tank Army, 20th Army, and 25th Army on the Lyman direction. The second stage brought together a large combined-arms grouping from across the 3rd Army Corps and attached units, supported by artillery, drones, air defense, and electronic warfare.