Operation Vivaldi: How Ukraine’s Latest Counteroffensive Changed the War

Ukraine's secretive Operation Vivaldi counteroffensive near Lyman has recaptured up to 250 square kilometres from Russia, dismantling Moscow's thrust toward the fortress city of Slovyansk. Using electronic warfare, unmanned ground vehicles, and elite shock troops, Ukrainian forces have potentially added years to any Russian timeline for capturing the Donbas region. References https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-forces-advance-key-eastern-battlefield-senior-commander-says-2026-09-28/ https://x.com/RyanO_ChosenCoy/status/2104661788574765403 https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-september-28-2026/ https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-visits-lyman-sector-says-operation-vivaldi-reclaimed-125-square-kilometers/ https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-russia-war-territory-pows-front-line-operation-vivaldi/ https://mwi.westpoint.edu/an-overture-to-victory-operation-vivaldi-and-ukraines-path-to-battlefield-decision/ https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4169753-zelensky-discusses-plans-for-fourth-season-of-operation-vivaldi-with-military.html https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4169753-zelensky-discusses-plans-for-fourth-season-of-operation-vivaldi-with-military.html https://www.twz.com/news-features/inside-ukraines-operation-vivaldi-that-sees-it-troops-gaining-ground-in-the-east https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/ukraines-innovative-robot-offensive-just-reversed-a-year-of-russian-gains/ https://www.newsweek.com/map-reveals-how-ukraine-scored-breakthrough-with-exploding-apcs-12510995 https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-counteroffensive-lyman/33856852.html