Ukraine Liberates 277 Square Kilometers in Operation Vivaldi

Brig. Gen. Andriy Biletsky announced the conclusion of Operation Vivaldi, a months-long Ukrainian offensive in the north-eastern Lyman sector. Led by the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s 3rd Corps, the operation liberated 277 square kilometers of territory, including more than 16 towns and villages, and inflicted at least 8,000 casualties on Russian forces.

Ukrainian troops employed asymmetric combined arms tactics, integrating infiltrating infantry with drone swarms to isolate and eliminate Russian positions. This strategy pushed Russian forces away from the Slovyansk-Kramatorsk highway, securing critical supply lines for the fortified cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk. Parallel offensives by air assault and paratrooper units in the Donetsk Region further turned back Russian assaults.

While the Russian Defense Ministry claimed its forces were holding ground or advancing, Russian milbloggers reported heavy pressure from infantry assaults and drone strikes. Biletsky stated that the operation demonstrated the ability to conduct an offensive with outnumbered forces using asymmetric tactics while maintaining defense in other sectors.