Biletskyi first reveals Operation “Vivaldi”: Ukrainian Armed Forces advance in northern Donetsk region
The Third Army Corps has officially confirmed for the first time the conduct of an offensive operation in the north of Donetsk Oblast. As part of Operation “Vivaldi,” Ukrainian troops liberated Srednie, eliminated hubs of Russian infiltration in a number of neighboring settlements, and cleared 75 sq km of territory. Another 10 sq km, according to the corps, were de-occupied.
The results of the operation were reported by the commander of the Third Army Corps, Brigadier General Andriy Biletskyi.
According to him, the operation was carried out under information silence for a long time. Ukrainian units eliminated hubs of penetration by Russian troops in Novoselivka, Oleksandrivka, Yarova, and on the outskirts of Korovyi Yar.
Separately, the corps reported the liberation of the settlement of Srednie.
The Third Corps emphasizes that 75 sq km of territory were actually cleared of Russian infiltration, while another 10 sq km were de-occupied. Thus, these figures describe the different nature of the combat actions carried out and do not mean the liberation of 85 sq km of previously entirely occupied territory.
According to the corps’ assessment, the operation inflicted significant losses on units of the 20th and 25th combined arms armies of the Russian Federation.
The Third Corps estimates the losses of Russian troops at this stage of the operation at approximately 1,500 servicemen. The corps also claims that the enemy lost over 12,000 UAVs and hundreds of units of armored vehicles, artillery systems, and vehicles. Independent confirmation of these assessments is not currently available.
A separate component of the operation was strikes on Russian logistics. According to the corps, unmanned systems units cut a number of enemy supply routes.
Biletskyi claims that as a result of the Ukrainian strikes, Russian troops were forced to move part of the fuel and lubricants supply system outside the occupied territory of Ukraine — to the Voronezh Oblast of Russia. The corps reports the disabling of a pipeline and the destruction of fuel depots.
The operation involved the 60th Separate Mechanized Brigade, the 125th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade, a battalion tactical group of the 3rd Assault Brigade, the 3rd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion, and the 25th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment of the Third Corps.
Units of the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade, the 8th Regiment of the Special Operations Forces, the special unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate “Artan,” and the 10th Mobile Border Detachment “DOZOR” were also involved.
Changes in this sector of the front were noticeable before Biletskyi's official statement. Earlier, the analytical project DeepState updated its combat map, reflecting changes in territorial control in the area of the Ukrainian operation.
At the same time, in recent days some Telegram channels reported an allegedly more large-scale result — the “cutting off” of the Russian salient on the Lyman direction near the Chornyi Zherebets River.
Officially, the Third Corps has not confirmed this so far. DeepState also did not report the complete elimination of this salient.
Biletskyi himself effectively urged not to draw conclusions about the ultimate goal of the Ukrainian offensive. According to him, the version circulating in open sources is that the goal of the operation is to reach the banks of the Chornyi Zherebets, but the command does not reveal the further plan.
“Our operation is called ‘Vivaldi.’ And Vivaldi, as you know, has four seasons. And this is only the first of them,” — stated Biletskyi, adding that the corps will continue to officially report on the results of the operation.
Thus, the current statement by the Third Corps concerns only the first confirmed stage of “Vivaldi,” and the command does not yet reveal the further goals of the Ukrainian offensive.
Based on materials: Third Army Corps, DeepState
