Ukraine's Operation Vivaldi Disrupts Russian Donbas Plans

Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi counteroffensive has cleared 51 square kilometers in its third phase, contributing to a total of 176 square kilometers now under Ukrainian control. The operation, conducted by Ukraine's Third Army Corps in the Lyman sector, has significantly disrupted Russia's plan to complete the conquest of the Donbas region. This ongoing campaign is not a decisive breakthrough but has blunted a major Russian offensive. It will include a fourth phase.

Tactics and Technology

Ukrainian forces created an electronic warfare 'curtain' to block Russian reconnaissance drones and conceal their own movements. They deployed large bomber drones to transport armed unmanned ground vehicles, or UGVs, deep behind enemy lines. These UGVs, fitted with heavy machine guns or explosives, caused havoc in the Russian rear and created conditions for infantry advances. In many cases, Russian forces were taken completely by surprise. An intercepted conversation included a Russian officer expressing disbelief that Ukrainian robots had been able to penetrate so far.

Mid-range drone strikes were used to isolate Russian units and cut their logistics routes. In early September, Ukrainian officials claimed to have forced a unit of Russia’s elite Rubicon drone formation to retreat after inflicting heavy casualties and destroying launch sites and depots. UGVs were also employed in de-mining operations, clearing pathways for advances and protecting lives amid severe Ukrainian manpower strains.

Deception and Information Warfare

A special unit within the Third Army Corps dedicated itself to presenting a false picture of combat operations. This unit collects and analyzes data to calculate what Russian troops are likely to believe, then creates a misleading battlefield picture. This information warfare convinced Russian commanders that the main Ukrainian axis of attack was Shandryholove-Zelena Dolyna. The deception caused Russia to burn through its reserves in counterattacks along that false axis. The real Ukrainian strike was focused on capturing the settlement of Nove.

Ground Gains and Local Impact

Phase Three of the operation led to the liberation of Nove, a key Russian hub, along with Ridkodub and Katerynivka. Ukrainian forces also restored control over Karpivka and Novomykhailivka. These gains join earlier liberated settlements including Shandryholove, Derylove, and Drobysheve. Control of the high ground around Nove now determines the initiative on the bridgehead. During this phase, Russia lost 2,000 troops killed and wounded, with 250 soldiers taken prisoner. Total Russian losses across the three phases of Operation Vivaldi exceed 5,000 killed and wounded on this front section.

Context and Significance

For the past year, Russia attempted a giant encirclement of fortress belt cities in Donbas. Ukraine’s recent success has blunted the northern wing of this pincer movement. Details of the progress were made public in recent weeks, with official confirmation coming on September 15. Ukrainian commanders have since carefully rationed further information releases. This contrasts with a Russian command culture where progress is routinely exaggerated, creating a distorted picture. In early September, Vladimir Putin announced the capture of Sviatohirsk, but Ukraine soon posted video evidence showing the town remained in Ukrainian hands far behind the front lines.

The operation undermines earlier assumptions about the impracticality of large-scale offensives in drone-saturated warfare. If scaled across the army, it could provide a model for restoring limited maneuver. It sends a powerful message to Moscow and Kyiv’s partners about Ukraine’s sustained battlefield capability. Operation Vivaldi is ongoing and will include a fourth phase.