An Area Larger Than Zhytomyr Has Been Liberated: How The Ukrainian Armed Forces' "Vivaldi" Operation Unfolded
- 16.09.2026, 9:15
- 2,044
A pile of "scrap metal" from Russian losses would reach the roof of a five-story building.
Near Lyman, the 3rd Army Corps of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) carried out Operation “Vivaldi”, thanks to which it cleared 85 square kilometers of territory of infiltrators, according to the unit’s report. A video showing footage of the operation features the joint efforts of assault troops and various types of drones. Among other things, the soldiers cut off the Russian army’s supply lines and reached fuel tankers as far as Voronezh. How did Operation “Vivaldi” unfold, which “cut off” a nearly 10-kilometer incursion by the Russian Armed Forces?
Thanks to the actions of the 3rd Army Corps of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Lyman sector, an area larger than Zhytomyr and nearly equal in size to Chernihiv was liberated from Russian forces, according to the unit’s final report. A two-minute video report appeared on the evening of September 15 on the Telegram channel of the Army Corps.
It turned out that Russian soldiers, acting individually or in small groups, had infiltrated Ukrainian-controlled territory in the Donetsk region and reached settlements located 8–10 km from the front lines. Such an incursion is called a “flag-waving” operation, since all the occupiers can do in such a situation is wave the Russian flag and then disrupt Ukrainian units in the rear. Thanks to this comprehensive operation, a bridgehead has been established for a further offensive by the Defense Forces, as summarized in the report from the 3rd Army Corps.
Military officials reported regaining control of the settlements of Novoselivka, Oleksandrivka (near Lyman), Yarove, and the areas surrounding Korovyi Yar: a total of 75 square kilometers. In addition, control has been regained over Sredne: another 10 square kilometers, bringing the total to 85 square kilometers. Russian soldiers had infiltrated the “gray zone,” and to drive them out, a joint tactical-level command center was established to coordinate the operations of special forces and reconnaissance units. In addition to detecting and neutralizing the enemy, strikes were carried out deep into their logistics lines. The strikes were so effective that “the Russians were forced to move their critical supply lines further and further into the rear to escape our strikes.”
The losses of the Russian Armed Forces following Operation “Vivaldi” by the Ukrainian Armed Forces amounted to 1,500 soldiers, 13,000 drones, 120 artillery pieces, three tanks, and hundreds of pieces of military equipment. The report compared the equipment lost by the Russians to the height of a building: the pile of “scrap metal” would reach the roof of a five-story building.
Operation “Vivaldi”—What’s Happening in the Donetsk Region Near Lyman
On a map from the DeepState analytical project, you can see some details of Operation “Vivaldi.” First of all, the map did not show the infiltration zone, which extended to Korovyi Yar and Oleksandrivka, 8–10 km from the red zone and the front lines. As of September 15, analysts reported that 12 square kilometers had been liberated in the area around the villages of Srednee and Shandrigolovo: 10 km wide and 2 km deep.
The commander of the 3rd Army Corps Andriy Biletsky confirmed Operation “Vivaldi,” during which territories were cleared and approximately 10 square kilometers were liberated. The commander also stated that this is only the first phase of the operation, and that there will actually be four in total.
“But our operation is called ‘Vivaldi.’ And Vivaldi, as we know, has four seasons. And this is just the first of them,” he said.
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