Ukraine's Vivaldi operation liberates 176 sq km near Lyman

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Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps liberated 176 square kilometers in the Lyman direction of Donetsk Oblast during the Vivaldi operation, commander Andriy Biletskyi said. The final phase secured 51 square kilometers, according to the Institute for the Study of War. The operation employed drone-dropped robots and explosive-laden armored vehicles.
Key Facts
- The Vivaldi operation liberated 176 square kilometers in the Lyman direction of Donetsk Oblast, with 51 square kilometers secured in the final phase.
- Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps commander Andriy Biletskyi said the operation was conducted in three stages.
- The operation used drone-dropped ground robots, kamikaze armored personnel carriers, and remote-controlled mine-clearing vehicles.
- The Institute for the Study of War assessed that the operation complicates Russian plans to capture Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Druzhkivka.
Operation Details
The Vivaldi operation was conducted in the Lyman direction of Donetsk Oblast by Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps. Commander Andriy Biletskyi stated the operation was carried out in three stages. The final stage liberated 51 square kilometers, bringing the total to 176 square kilometers. The operation began in spring 2026 and was kept secret to conceal the scale and direction of attacks.
Tactics and Equipment
Ukrainian forces dropped ground robots behind Russian positions using drones. Soviet-era armored personnel carriers were converted into kamikaze vehicles filled with explosives. Remote-controlled mine-clearing vehicles and grenade-launcher-equipped kamikaze devices were also employed.
Strategic Impact
The Institute for the Study of War assessed that the operation complicates Russian plans to capture Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Druzhkivka. Russian forces attempted to encircle the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk defense line from the north via Lyman and Sviatohirsk and from the south via Dobropillia. Lyman is a key logistics hub in the Donbas region.