‘Precious Kilometers’: Zelensky Visits Lyman Front After Recent Gains

On September 30, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky paid a visit to the command post of the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade in the Lyman sector, which spans across Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. During his visit, Zelensky commended the soldiers for reclaiming more than 125 square kilometers of territory from Russian occupation, in collaboration with other units of the Third Army Corps as part of Operation Vivaldi.

The President expressed gratitude for their efforts in safeguarding the state, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

During his discussions with the commanders, Zelensky touched on various topics, including procurement, specifically focusing on acquiring pick-up trucks for the brigades. He also emphasized the importance of increasing funding for drones, simplifying procurement processes, and expanding staffing. Furthermore, he stressed the need for long-range artillery.

Earlier, on September 28, the corps commander, Brigadier-General Andrii Biletskyi, announced that Ukrainian forces under the command of the 3rd Army Corps had liberated three villages in northern Donetsk Oblast during Operation Vivaldi. The villages of Ridkodub, Nove, and Katerynivka were liberated, alongside the restoration of full Ukrainian control over Karpivka and Novomykhailivka.

This phase, referred to as the third season of Operation Vivaldi, resulted in over 2,000 Russian losses and the capture of more than 250 Russian soldiers. The two prior seasons of Operation Vivaldi were each introduced in similar updates, first on September 15, when the offensive was named, and then on September 20, when the liberation of Shandryholove and Derylove villages were announced.

This operation stands out as a notable success for Ukrainian forces, despite facing a significant manpower disadvantage and the dominance of the drone-based kill zone above the front line. Ukrainian forces have managed to overcome these challenges through the suppression of Russian drone assets and logistics, as well as the innovative use of technology, including ground drones.