Ukraine’s ‘Operation Vivaldi’ pushed Russian forces back around Lyman in the Donbas. Now both armies are massing troops for the next battles farther south.

Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi has pushed Russian forces back around Lyman in the Donbas region. Ukrainian units from the 3rd Army Corps are successfully completing the first phase of the operation, which involves driving Russian units across the Chornyi Zherebets River near Lyman. While at least one phase of the operation has reached its goal, confirmation that Ukrainian forces have crossed the river remains absent.

Russian troops have been retreating from Lyman, with Ukrainian forces continuing to push in various sectors, including against the 20th Army’s northern flank near Karpivka and Ridkodub, the southern flank near Yarova, and the junction between the two armies near Stavky. Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unexpected statement that Russian forces had captured Sviatohirsk, but this was misleading as 20th Army troops were retreating at the time.

Russian forces still hold positions near Lyman, but it remains unclear whether they still control Zelena Dolyna and Shandryholove. Ukrainian forces are preparing for heavy fighting in the coming months, possibly halting a Russian advance towards Mykolaivka and the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas canal that could threaten the eastern outskirts of Druzhkivka and Kramatorsk.

Both sides are massing troops in the central Donbas for a fall and winter campaign, with Ukrainian forces attempting counterattacks near Rai-Oleksandrivka southeast of Mykolaivka. Russian forces have captured Mala Tokmachka, but the front has moved several kilometers northwest of the village, as confirmed by Ukrainian military footage.