Vivaldi erased Russia’s Lyman pincer. Now Moscow is pushing toward Sloviansk instead
DeepState says Ukraine stopped one Russian approach to its fortified Donetsk cities. Moscow is pressing another.
Ukraine's Vivaldi counteroffensive successfully rolled back a Russian advance north of Lyman in Donetsk Oblast, but Moscow shifted some of its forces south, targeting Mykolaivka, a crucial stronghold on the path to the fortified city of Sloviansk. The halted advance was part of Russia's broader strategy to encircle Ukraine's Donetsk fortress belt, which includes Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, and Kostiantynivka.
Roman Pohorilyi, co-founder of the Ukrainian battlefield mapping project DeepState, warned that losing Mykolaivka would create significant challenges for Sloviansk's defenders. Russia continues to press toward Dobropillia on the belt's southwestern edge, forming a 'claw' north of Lyman by exploiting Ukrainian brigades' shortages and pushing small groups into their lines.
Ukraine's Third Army Corps stabilized the area, rebuilt forces, and launched counterattacks, effectively nullifying Russia's previous efforts. The corps reports that Vivaldi's initial phases recovered control of 125 square kilometers, including 50 previously under Russian occupation, and inflicted over 3,000 Russian personnel losses.
However, the authenticity of these battlefield figures remains unverified. The area around Mykolaivka was previously managed by Ukraine's 11th Army Corps but is now under the Third Army Corps' jurisdiction. Ukrainian troops must now identify and stop infiltrating Russian groups before they establish control. Although personnel shortages persist on the Lyman axis, reinforcements are being distributed more evenly.
The Third Army Corps first announced Operation Vivaldi on September 15 after conducting the counteroffensive north of Lyman under information silence. Commander Andrii Biletskyi stated that the announced gains were just the first phase, with the corps claiming their attacks had disrupted Russian supply routes. A 60th Mechanized Brigade captain reported that Ukrainian units discreetly assembled near Derylove and Drobysheve, striking Russian drone launch sites at designated times, allowing infantry to advance.
A second phase of the operation was disclosed on September 20. Further southwest, Dobropillia is facing intense pressure as Russia concentrates large forces there and advances with relentless infantry and thousands of drones each month. Despite claims by Moscow that they had encircled the town on September 22, the Institute for the Study of War found no evidence to support this assertion.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
