Ukraine's Operation Vivaldi leverages drones and robots to reclaim territory in Donetsk

Operation Vivaldi, the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Lyman sector of Donetsk Oblast, was disclosed on Sept. 15 after a prolonged media blackout. The 3rd Army Corps reports that its forces have reclaimed roughly 176 sq km by integrating infantry, air-defence, electronic warfare, strike drones and unmanned ground vehicles. Drone operators from the 66th Mechanized Brigade assemble and launch Dart fixed-wing drones from a dugout, coordinating hits on Russian artillery that have forced the enemy to retreat.

Simultaneously, UGVs such as those run by the battalion’s “Kuzya” deliver half-ton supplies across mined roads, allowing infantry to carry only light gear. Logistics robots from the 96th Separate Support Battalion also clear mines and transport cargo, boosting morale with rapid deliveries. The synergy of these technologies, praised by commanders like Brig. Gen. Andrii Biletskyi, is credited with the territorial gains and the continued pressure on Russian positions.