Ukraine's secret Donbas counteroffensive: Operation Vivaldi reported to liberate 277 square kilometers

Ukrainian commanders detail the grinding advance through minefields, river crossings and drone swarms in a months-long push in the Lyman sector

By LineZotpaper

Published22 October 2026

Read Time2 min

The Kyiv Independent has reported on a previously secret Ukrainian counteroffensive, Operation Vivaldi, which has been underway in the Lyman sector of Donetsk Oblast since spring 2026. According to Ukrainian commanders interviewed by the outlet, the operation has liberated 277 square kilometers and 16 villages as of October 14. The account highlights the extreme difficulty of advancing against minefields, drone surveillance, and an entrenched Russian defensive network, but also demonstrates that significant infantry-led advances remain possible on a drone-saturated front line.

Reporting from Kharkiv Oblast, the Kyiv Independent's Asami Terajima spoke with multiple Ukrainian soldiers and commanders who took part in Operation Vivaldi, a counteroffensive designed to improve defensive positions in the Donbas ahead of winter.

Soldier Oleksandr, callsign "Marine," described surviving a minefield, a river crossing, and hours of being hunted by FPV drones. "If I'm honest, I was convinced they were going to kill us," he said. Battalion Commander Sergii Galchenko, callsign "Psycho," said the first group of soldiers to cross the river barely made it, and reinforcing them was a major challenge.

One of the operation's first objectives was the village of Shandryholove, which took more than a month to liberate. Anti-personnel mines caused 80% of Ukrainian casualties, Galchenko said. Soldiers used drones to strike Russian positions ahead of ground troops and employed a blockade tactic, infiltrating behind Russian lines to isolate them.

A company commander with the 125th Heavy Mechanized Brigade, callsign "Ed," noted that Russian troops had prepared an extensive underground defensive network, often in house basements. He estimated Shandryholove contained about 50 destroyed houses, making aerial identification of positions difficult.

Ukrainian forces advanced along treelines, varying the timing and routes of assaults. Some movements occurred at night using anti-thermal blankets. The account is solely from the Ukrainian side; no Russian perspectives are included in the reporting. The operation is ongoing.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The operation demonstrates that, despite a heavily fortified front line dominated by drones and artillery, Ukrainian infantry can still conduct coordinated offensives and gain ground.
Territorial gains may help secure defensive lines as winter approaches, potentially protecting key Ukrainian-held strongholds in the Donbas.
Successes such as this can shape both military morale and international assessments of Ukrainian capabilities.

Background

The war in Ukraine has featured intense positional fighting in the Donbas, with both sides heavily mining areas and relying on drones for reconnaissance and strike. The Lyman sector has seen back-and-forth battles since 2022. Operation Vivaldi, kept secret until recently, was launched by brigades under the Third Army Corps.

Key Perspectives

Ukrainian military: The interviewed commanders and soldiers frame Operation Vivaldi as a difficult but successful effort. They emphasize the role of drones, flexible tactics, and soldier endurance in overcoming Russian defenses. Casualties were significant, particularly from mines, but the commanders express pride in the achievement. Critics/Skeptics: The account comes entirely from Ukrainian sources. Without independent verification or Russian perspective, the long-term strategic value of the gains and the sustainability of such operations remain uncertain.

What to Watch

Whether Ukrainian forces can hold and expand the liberated territory amid likely Russian counterattacks.
Winter conditions could alter operational tempo for both sides.
Possible shifts in international military aid or political messaging based on demonstrated Ukrainian offensive capability.

Sources

Inside Ukraine's secret counteroffensive in heavily fortified Donbas · Kyiv Independent

Checked

8 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 6 supported.

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SupportedOperation Vivaldi was a previously secret counteroffensive in the Donbas that reportedly retook 277 square kilometers.Kyiv Independent: “Operation Vivaldi had retaken 277 square kilometers (107 square miles) of territory, including 16 settlements, as of Oct. 14, according to the Third Army Corps.”
SupportedThe push involved minefields, river crossings and drone attacks over a months-long advance in the Lyman sector.Kyiv Independent: “The first task was making it through a dense minefield. Survive that, and then there was the river to cross.”
Partly supportedUkrainian commanders interviewed by the outlet said the operation had liberated 277 square kilometers and 16 villages as of October 14.Kyiv Independent: “Operation Vivaldi had retaken 277 square kilometers (107 square miles) of territory, including 16 settlements, as of Oct. 14, according to the Third Army Corps.”
SupportedThe operation has been underway in the Lyman sector since spring 2026.Kyiv Independent: “By pushing forward this spring, Ukrainian brigades under the Third Army Corps aimed to improve defensive positions in the area”
SupportedOleksandr said, “If I'm honest, I was convinced they were going to kill us.”Kyiv Independent: “"If I'm honest, I was convinced they were going to kill us," the 37-year-old told the Kyiv Independent”
SupportedAnti-personnel mines accounted for 80% of Ukrainian casualties, according to Galchenko.Kyiv Independent: “Anti-personnel mines were everywhere and accounted for 80% of casualties, Galchenko said, without disclosing the total number of Ukrainian casualties during the operation.”
Partly supportedEd estimated that Shandryholove contained about 50 destroyed houses.Kyiv Independent: “He estimated that there were about 50 houses in Shandryholove.”
SupportedThe operation is ongoing.Kyiv Independent: “Operation Vivaldi, which is still ongoing”