Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi makes gains around Lyman in northern Donetsk
Ukraine’s third army corps has reported that its Operation Vivaldi offensive in the northern part of Donetsk has reclaimed territory north of the strategic city of Lyman. The corps says it has cleared between 40 and 125 square kilometres of land, citing liberated villages such as Shandryholove, Derylove and Drobysheve. Ukrainian commanders note the use of drones and electronic warfare to disrupt Russian forces, while Russian officials have struggled to acknowledge the losses. Independent analysts note that the exact extent of the cleared area remains contested, and the operation is described as ongoing rather than completed.
Why it matters
The offensive could shift the front line in the Donbas and affect the balance of power between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the region.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTAll camps report Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi gains around Lyman, but left-leaning outlets stress Ukrainian victories and Russian humiliation, centrist outlets focus on strategic reversal and area figures with some caution, while right-leaning outlets highlight the operation’s secrecy, Russian denial and drone tactics.
LEFT
Ukrainian forces are portrayed as achieving a major breakthrough that embarrasses Russian leaders and reverses the front line.
CENTER
The operation is presented as a strategic reversal with contested area measurements and mixed verification.
RIGHT
The offensive is described as a covert Ukrainian campaign that Russian officials and bloggers struggle to acknowledge, emphasizing drone use and Russian setbacks.
The left emphasises
- recaptured villages and tens of square kilometres (e.g., 77 sq mi, 125 km²)
- humiliation of Putin and refutation of his claims
- analyst praise of the operation as the most important attack of the year
The right emphasises
- clandestine nature of the operation and Russian denial
- use of ground-based and long-range drones to sow confusion
- Russian war bloggers publicly denouncing inaccurate reporting
How this story developed
- Sep 1 Russia multiplies jet-powered Shahed drone strikes fivefold in one month
- Sep 3 Ukraine's General Staff says Russian forces have incurred substantial casualties and material losses since the invasion began, while Ukrainian losses remain undisclosed.
- Sep 10 Ukraine has started an offensive operation in the north of the Donetsk region, according to Brigadier-General Andrii Biletskyi.
- Sep 11 Ukrainian intelligence now reports that daily Russian casualties regularly exceed recruitment capacity.
- Sep 12 Russia has broadened deployment of jet‑propelled drones, prompting Kyiv to trial quicker, low‑cost interceptors.
- Sep 15 Ukrainian troops repelled a Russian assault on Lyman.
- Sep 20 In the early hours of Friday, Russia's anti-aircraft units reported destroying 35 Ukrainian drones heading for the capital. Local authorities said a comparable wave of drones was also intercepted in the Toula district south of Moscow. The incidents occurred as Russia began a three-day parliamentary and local election cycle. No casualties were reported from the interceptions.
- Sep 20 Zelensky said a major Russian oil refinery, a logistics structure and the Voronezh region were hit in the massive attack.
- Sep 20 Officials reported that 249 unmanned aircraft were intercepted in the latest wave of attacks.
- Sep 21 Russia's defence ministry said it will increase the frequency and precision of its strikes on Kyiv.
- Sep 25 Ukrainian commanders announced further territorial gains around Lyman since the initial report.
Related stories
23 in this thread