Ukraine retakes 51 square kilometers in third phase of Operation Vivaldi, while Russia loses 2,000 troops and 250 captured — UNITED24 Media
Ukraine’s Third Army Corps recaptured 51 square kilometers and five settlements during the third phase of Operation Vivaldi, bringing the total territory recaptured in the offensive to 176 square kilometers.
The Third Ukrainian Army Corps liberated the settlements of Nove, Ridkodub and Katerynivka and re-established control of Karpivka and Novomykhailivka during the third phase of Operation Vivaldi.
According to the corps, on September 28, Ukrainian forces regained an additional 51 square kilometers in the latest phase, bringing the total area recaptured since the start of its offensive operations to 176 square kilometers.
We bring you stories from the field. Your support keeps our team on the ground.
DONATE NOW
The Third Army Corps said Russian forces lost around 2,000 men during the operation, while more than 250 Russian soldiers were taken prisoner. The body described Vivaldi’s third phase, or “season”, as a turning point in the wider operation.
The main objective of the third phase was Nove, which the corps described as a key Russian hub on the beachhead. The commander of the 3rd Army Corps, Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi, said control of the surrounding heights was crucial to maintaining the initiative in the region.
Russian soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces during Operation Vivaldi. (Source: Third Army Corps)
Russian soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces during Operation Vivaldi. (Source: Third Army Corps)
“The enemy was convinced that the main direction of the attack was Shandryholove-Zelena Dolyna. This forced them to senselessly burn through their reserves during counterattacks precisely in this direction. The Russians missed the real strike, which was focused on capturing Nove,” Biletskyi said.
According to the corps, Ukrainian forces used modified Soviet-era BTR-60 armored personnel carriers to breach Russian defenses. The vehicles had been converted into remotely controlled ground strike systems and were used to destroy heavily fortified Russian positions.
Learn more
- Category
- War in Ukraine
September 24, 2026 12:33
The Third Army Corps also said Russian troops surrendered in groups during the operation, including officers, drone pilots and artillery personnel.
Operation Vivaldi was announced by Biletskyi on September 15 as a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the northern Donetsk region. During the first phase, Ukrainian forces cleared 75 square kilometers of Russian infiltration positions, regained control of several settlements, and reportedly inflicted substantial losses on Russian forces.
Learn more
- Category
- War in Ukraine
September 27, 2026 5:57 p.m.
The operation also involved new approaches in the use of unmanned systems. On September 24, the Third Corps said it had carried out what it described as the first such attack involving unmanned ground vehicles deployed by heavy bomber drones.
According to the Corps, heavy bomber drones operated by the Third Assault Brigade carried NC13 strike UGVs, known as “Gryphons,” and deployed them more than 10 kilometers behind Russian lines.
-4a56a6b482ec132402c16ef6fcabf9a2.png)
Our journalists work on the front lines to show what is really happening in Ukraine. Your support helps them continue reporting.
Gn world
