Lauge Risom Koch 
The Ukrainian Third Army Corps liberated key settlements and inflicted heavy Russian casualties using deception tactics and ground robots.
The Ukrainian Third Army Corps completed the third phase of Operation Vivaldi by clearing an additional 51 square kilometers of territory. According to United24 Media, the ongoing military offensive consists of four planned seasonal phases. The recent advance brings the total area under Ukrainian control during this operation to 176 square kilometers.
Advancing troops successfully liberated the settlements of Nove, Ridkodub, and Katerynivka while restoring control over two other villages. The Third Army Corps identified the settlement of Nove as a vital Russian logistical hub in this specific sector. Third Army Corps Commander Andrii Biletskyi stated, “Whoever controls the high ground around this settlement holds the initiative on the bridgehead.”
The counteroffensive inflicted severe casualties on Russian units operating in the region. During this latest phase alone, Russian forces suffered 2,000 killed and wounded soldiers. Furthermore, Ukrainian troops captured 250 Russian prisoners to use for future prisoner exchanges.
Deception tactics and battlefield robotics
Ukrainian commanders successfully utilized deception tactics to hide their main axis of attack from Russian military intelligence. Biletskyi explained that enemy commanders foolishly burned through their reserves expecting an attack along a completely different route. He noted that the Russian military essentially slept through the real strike focused on capturing Nove.
A specialized Ukrainian unit planted false information at the highest command levels to create a misleading operational picture. This information warfare strategy successfully convinced Russian troops to deploy their defenses in the wrong locations. The deliberate bluff allowed Ukrainian infantry to advance rapidly while neutralizing significant numbers of enemy troops.
The military operation also debuted new combat strategies involving unmanned ground vehicles equipped with grenade launchers. Heavy bomber drones airlifted these ground robots directly behind Russian lines to conduct unprecedented airborne assault operations. These robotic units attacked Russian troops inside their shelters, applying psychological pressure while clearing positions without risking human infantry.
Strategic impact and Russian attrition
The success of Operation Vivaldi directly disrupts Russian strategic plans in the eastern Donetsk region. The active Ukrainian advance prevents Russian forces from bypassing the city of Kramatorsk from the north. Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops in other sectors continue conducting active defensive operations to halt broader enemy offensives.
The Russian military continues to suffer heavy casualties while attempting to capture the Donbas region. Total Russian losses across all three phases of Operation Vivaldi have now exceeded 5,000 killed and wounded personnel. Across the entire front, the Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russia lost more than 10,000 troops over the past week alone.
Ukrainian drone units currently neutralize more than 500 Russian soldiers every single day. Despite applying immense pressure and sustaining record losses, the Russian military has failed to achieve significant battlefield results. Ukrainian officials maintain that continued international support remains critical for sustaining these successful operational results.
