(KYIV) – Phase three of Operation Vivaldi is now complete, as Ukrainian forces continue their counteroffensive in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian Third Army Corps has released footage stating they captured 250 Russian soldiers, the largest number in a single operation since the Kursk incursion two years ago.
The operation has resulted in the liberation of five villages. Ukrainian officials report Russian losses at 2,000 personnel, with over 250 soldiers captured. This marks a turning point for the operation, which has now retaken 176 square kilometres of Ukrainian land, bringing the total to 176 since offensive operations began.
The Commander of the Ukrainian Third Army Corps, General Blitzky, stated that the enemy was convinced the main attack would be directed at Chanderlove to the west. “Ukraine actually attacks from the north,” he explained, forcing Russian forces to waste reserves on counterattacks in the wrong direction.
To achieve this, Ukrainian forces employed new tactics. The Third Army Corps used Soviet BTR60 armoured personnel carriers converted into robotic kamikaze complexes. Two of these unmanned vehicles, filled with explosives, were sent into enemy territory, destroying the enemy’s strongest fortifications with a blast equivalent to a glide bomb. Russian soldiers surrendered in entire units, including officers, pilots, and artillerymen.
Russian sources are increasingly frustrated with false reports on their side and the problems this causes at the front. One complaint stated there is “no communication, no logistics, no drones to deliver even basic supplies like food and water to the forward positions.” A Russian media source, Rybar, confirmed the situation for the 20th and 25th combined arms armies is deteriorating, noting that “the enemy’s measured release of footage is a tool and information pressure, but behind it lies a very real deterioration of the situation.”
The timing of Ukraine’s footage release is part of a broader information warfare strategy. Military blogger Oleg Sarv commented, “People can endure military setbacks. They can endure and support, but they do not forgive the feeling that they are being treated like fools.” The frustration is compounded by official Russian channels remaining silent on the losses. An assessment by Clement Molen noted a 5,000 square kilometre difference between reality and Russian claims on official maps across various sectors.
The logistical failures are severe. Reports from a smaller channel indicate that “guys are sitting for days without water. Many have already had to resort to drinking their own urine.” The report adds that after five years of war, commanders are too afraid to report the lack of supplies for fear of blame, stating, “The guys are paying for it with their lives every single day.” This lack of supply is a direct contributor to the mass surrenders, as soldiers find themselves out of ammunition, food, and water.
The operation appears to be ongoing, with phase three complete and indications of a fourth phase planned. The footage was released by the Ukrainian Third Army Corps in the eastern front, near the fortress belt hubs of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
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