Slept Through the Offensive: Biletsky Said How the Russians Needlessly Wasted Their Reserves
The Third Army Corps announced the completion of the third phase of "Vivaldi" in the Donetsk region
The Third Army Corps reported the completion of the third phase of the offensive operation “Vivaldi” in the north of the Donetsk Oblast. According to the military, Ukrainian units liberated Nove, Ridkodub and Katerynivka, and also restored control over Karpivka and Novomykhailivka. The corps claims 2,000 losses of the Russian army and over 250 Russian servicemen captured.
According to the Third Army Corps, during the third season of the “Vivaldi” operation an additional 51 km² of territory returned to Ukrainian control. The total area recovered within the offensive actions, the corps says, reached 176 km². The main objective of this phase of the operation, the military say, was the settlement of Nove, which the corps describes as a key logistical hub for Russian forces on this bridgehead. According to the commander of the Third Army Corps, Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky, control of the heights around Nove makes it possible to seize the initiative in this sector of the front.
Andriy Biletsky said that the Russian command expected the main strike in another direction, which led them to expend reserves in counterattacks, while the Ukrainian offensive was concentrated on Nove:
“The enemy was convinced that the main axis of the strike was Shandryholove – Zelena Dolyna. This forced them to senselessly burn their reserves in counterattacks precisely on that axis. The Russians slept through the real strike, which was concentrated on taking Nove.”
The corps reported that robotized systems were used during the operation to break through the Russian defenses. In particular, the military said they used converted Soviet BTR-60s as kamikaze robotic systems to strike the enemy’s fortifications.
The Third Army Corps also reported that Russian servicemen surrendered en masse as whole units. Among the prisoners, according to Ukrainian military, were officers, pilots and artillerymen.
Units of the Third Assault Brigade, as well as border guards, were involved in the combat operations at this phase of the operation. In particular, the 3rd Border Detachment named after the Hero of Ukraine Colonel Yevheniy Pikus restored control over Ridkodub and organized defense on new lines. The 10th Mobile Border Detachment “DOZOR” also took an active part in the assault actions.
Earlier the Third Army Corps reported that the first phase of “Vivaldi” was conducted under an information blackout. At that time Ukrainian forces reported the liberation of Serednie and the cleansing of several settlements from Russian infiltration, as well as 75 km² of cleared territory and another 10 km² de-occupied.
During the second phase of the operation, according to the corps, Ukrainian forces liberated Shandryholove and Derylove and established full control over Drobyshcheve. At that time the total area of territories returned to Ukrainian control within “Vivaldi” amounted to 125 km², of which 50 km² were de-occupied.
President Volodymyr Zelensky also reported the results of the “Vivaldi” operation on 27 September 2026. He spoke of important achievements by Ukrainian troops on the Lyman direction and singled out the servicemen of the 3rd Army Corps.
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