Ukrainian troops clear 75 sq. km, liberate 10 sq. km in northern Donetsk region – Third Army Corps commander Biletskyi
Third Army Corps commander Andrii Biletskyi. Photo source: ukrinform.ua
Ukrainian troops have launched counteroffensive operations in the northern Donetsk region.
As part of Operation Vivaldi, units of the Third Army Corps eliminated pockets of Russian infiltration across 75 sq. km and liberated another 10 sq. km, as the Third Army Corps commander Andrii Biletskyi announced, according to Rubryka.
According to Biletskyi, the operation took place under an information blackout. Corps units:
- Cleared infiltrating Russian forces from Novoselivka, Oleksandrivka, Yarova, and the outskirts of Korovyi Yar
- Liberated Serednie
"Under an information blackout, our units eliminated pockets of enemy infiltration and cleared 75 sq. km. We liberated another 10 sq. km," the commander stressed.
Biletskyi said Ukrainian troops had dealt a blow to the combat capability of Russia's 20th and 25th armies.
According to the commander, Russian troop losses at this stage total approximately 1,500. He said Ukrainian forces had also destroyed:
- More than 12,000 drones, along with armored vehicles, artillery systems, and other vehicles.
Separately, Ukrainian unmanned systems units targeted Russian military logistics routes. Strikes by the corps forced Russian forces to relocate their fuel and lubricant supplies outside Ukraine, to the Voronezh region. During the operation, Russian forces dismantled a pipeline, and Ukrainian strikes destroyed supply depots.
The operation involved:
- The 60th Separate Mechanized Brigade
- The 125th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade
- A battalion tactical group from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade
- The 3rd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion
- The corps' 25th Separate Anti-Tank Battalion
Attached units also took part in the offensive: the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade, the 85th Tank Battalion of the 8th Special Operations Forces Regiment, the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence special unit Artan, and the 10th Mobile Border Guard Detachment Dozor.
The Third Army Corps commander also addressed open-source reports claiming that the offensive's ultimate goal was for Ukrainian troops to reach the banks of the Chornyi Zherebets River.
"Open sources are now full of reports claiming that the ultimate goal of our offensive operations is to reach the banks of the Chornyi Zherebets River. But our operation is called 'Vivaldi.' And Vivaldi, as we know, has four seasons. This is only the first. So follow our official updates and don't rush to share spoilers. Good news is coming," the brigadier general stressed.
He also described the operation's first phase as a combination of drones, robotic systems, and infantry.
"Drones, robots, and motivated infantry — that's what the first season of 'Vivaldi' sounds like. Stay tuned for the Third Corps' next announcements," he concluded.
Background
In August, Ukrainian troops liberated another 2 sq. km of woodland from Russian forces in the Kharkiv region. The area lies southwest of Zapadne, near Kupiansk. After clearing the area, Ukraine's Defense Forces continue to advance west of Dvorichna.
Ukraine's Defense Forces also continue combat operations in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Ukrainian troops are liberating settlements from Russian forces, but have yet to regain full control of the region — the area around Dachne remains under occupation.
According to the DeepState map, Ukrainian troops have liberated Zelenyi Hai, Novokhatske, Hrushivske, Tolstoi, Zirka, Yalta, Piddubne, Myrne, Voskresenka, Sichneve, Vorone, Ternove, Berezove, Stepove, Kalynivske, Pryvillia, Zlahoda, Rybne, and Krasnohirske. They have also pushed Russian forces back in Novopavlivka, Novoheorhiivka, Novomykolaivka, Novohryhorivka, Zaporizke, and Pryvilne.
As of September 5, Ukrainian troops had advanced along certain sections of the front in the Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Ukraine's Defense Forces had also halted several Russian offensive operations.
