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Ukraine Reports New Gains in Northern Donetsk Battlefield
Ukrainian soldiers say they have retaken land from Russian forces in Donetsk.
Their army corps reported recovering 51 square kilometres.
The commander said the wider operation, called Vivaldi, has recovered 176 square kilometres.
Ukraine also says it freed three villages and regained control of two others.
The fighting is happening in a part of eastern Ukraine where battles have been especially intense.
A research group said the Ukrainian operation made it harder for Russia to surround several important cities.
Russia has continued moving toward those cities from the south and entering Kostiantynivka.
Ukraine still controls about one-fifth of Donetsk, while Russia wants to control the whole region.
Ukraine's Third Army Corps says it recaptured 51 square kilometres in northern Donetsk.
Brigadier-General Andrii Biletskyi said Operation Vivaldi has recaptured 176 square kilometres in total.
The operation reportedly freed three villages and restored Ukrainian control over two others.
The Institute for the Study of War called the operation operationally significant because it disrupted Russia's encirclement effort.
Ukraine holds about 20% of Donetsk, while Russia seeks control of the entire region.
- Who
- Ukraine's Third Army Corps, commanded in the area by Brigadier-General Andrii Biletskyi, is conducting the reported operation against Russian forces.
- What
- Ukraine says it recaptured territory, freed three villages, and restored control over two more in northern Donetsk.
- Where
- Northern Donetsk, including the area around the eastern city of Kostiantynivka.
- When
- The report was published on September 28; Biletskyi said he has commanded operations in the area since the previous month.
- Why
- The operation aims to disrupt Russia's effort to encircle Ukrainian cities in the region and complicate its eastern offensive.
Ukraine's Reported Gains
Russia's Territorial Objective
Control of Donetsk
Ukraine's Reported Gains
Ukraine says its forces are recapturing territory and disrupting Russia's attempt to encircle key eastern cities.
Russia's Territorial Objective
Russia seeks control of all Donetsk, which the report identifies as Moscow's main territorial demand in stalled negotiations.
Battlefield Momentum
Ukraine's Reported Gains
Ukraine reports advances in northern Donetsk and earlier gains of more than 700 square kilometres in the southeast.
Russia's Territorial Objective
Russian forces have continued advancing toward Donetsk's cities from the south and infiltrating deeper into Kostiantynivka, although overall frontline advances have slowed this year.
Key facts
- Operation
- Vivaldi
- Reported corps gains
- 51 square kilometres
- Total reported operation gains
- 176 square kilometres
- Villages freed
- Three
- Villages regained
- Two
- Ukraine's share of Donetsk
- About 20%
- Assessment
- The Institute for the Study of War described the operation as operationally significant.





