Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi pushes forward in northern Donetsk, retaking villages
Ukraine’s Third Army Corps said it seized control of villages including Ridkodub, Nove and Katerynivka and restored authority over Karpivka and Novomykhailivka in northern Donetsk. The offensive employed converted BTR‑60 vehicles used as unmanned explosives to breach Russian lines. Russian sources acknowledged a collapse of the salient north of Lyman and reported ongoing counter‑attacks. Both sides noted continued drone activity and strikes on infrastructure elsewhere in Ukraine. The gains shift the frontline and could affect future negotiations.
Why it matters
The territorial shift strengthens Ukraine’s position on the front and may influence diplomatic talks.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTAll three camps report that Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi has retaken villages and reclaimed territory in northern Donetsk, but they differ in the aspects they spotlight.
LEFT
Highlights Ukrainian battlefield successes, high Russian casualties and the use of deception tactics, framing the operation as a major Ukrainian victory.
CENTER
Frames the offensive as an operational breakthrough that disrupts Russian logistics and command, emphasizing novel drone tactics and strategic significance.
RIGHT
Focuses on the amount of land recaptured and the impact on Russian plans, underscoring the scale of Russian losses and the operation’s role in thwarting a Russian encirclement.
The left emphasises
- Ukrainian forces liberated villages such as Nove, Ridkodub and Katerynivka and captured 250 Russian soldiers.
- The operation inflicted over 2,000 Russian casualties and used deceptive BTR-60 kamikaze drones.
- The advance is portrayed as a major blow to Putin’s war effort.
The right emphasises
- Around 51-176 sq km of territory have been reclaimed, raising the total to about 176 sq km.
- Russian casualties are reported at roughly 2,000 and more than 250 soldiers captured.
- The offensive is said to hinder Moscow’s plans to surround key eastern cities.
How this story developed
- Sep 1 Russia multiplies jet-powered Shahed drone strikes fivefold in one month
- 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 The robots have been observed along the entire 1,200‑kilometre front.
- Sep 21 Election commission chair Ella Pamfilova said preliminary results will be announced Monday at 11 hours (10 hours in Paris).
- Sep 21 Partial results show United Russia holding at least 338 of the 450 Duma seats.
- Sep 21 Preliminary results show United Russia winning 355 of the 450 State Duma seats, surpassing its previous 2016 high. The foreign ministries of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway issued a joint statement condemning elections held in Crimea and the four Ukrainian regions seized by Russia as violations of Ukraine's sovereignty. They demanded accountability for those organizing the vote and urged Russia to end its war and accept an unconditional ceasefire. The same period saw France support the removal of oligarch Alisher Usmanov from the EU sanctions list, a move backed by Slovakia and linked to broader negotiations over detained French nationals in Azerbaijan.
- Sep 21 The Quai d’Orsay condemns holding the vote in the occupied territories of Crimea and the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, calling it a violation of international law and the UN Charter and stating Fran
- Sep 21 Western allies issued a joint declaration condemning the election as a breach of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
- Sep 24 Reports allege that corporate managers pressured staff to vote for United Russia, suggesting coercion in the electoral process.
- Sep 25 Ukrainian commanders announced further territorial gains around Lyman since the initial report.
- Sep 26 President Trump publicly urged Ukraine to negotiate a settlement with Russia.
- Sep 27 Operators now use Discord to coordinate the robots with drones.
- Sep 28 Ukrainian forces announced the latest village recaptures as part of Operation Vivaldi’s third phase.
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