A surprise offensive by Ukrainian robots in the eastern region of Donbas appears to have wiped out over a year of Russia’s territorial gains, according to security experts, and represents a strategic blow to the territorial ambitions of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Details about the Ukrainian counteroffensive, named “Operation Vivaldi,” have begun to emerge in recent weeks, providing a rare glimpse into the ever-changing nature of the battles on the front, in the context of Russia’s large-scale invasion.
The operation, which continues and began in May, has allowed the 3rd Army Corps of Ukraine to deploy large bombing drones and remote-controlled robots behind enemy lines in the Liman area, in the north of the Donetsk region, apparently taking the Russian forces by surprise, security experts have stated.
In the last 12 months, Russian forces have tried to encircle the so-called cities of the “fortified belt”, which make up the remainder of the territory controlled by Ukraine in the region.
The third phase of Operation Vivaldi has however freed another 51 square kilometers, and the total recovered area has reached 176 square kilometers, declared on September 28th the Ukrainian brigadier general Andrii Bilețki. The last phase of the battles caused over 2,000 Russian losses, and over 250 Russian soldiers were taken prisoners, he added.
Patrick Bolder, a defense expert and strategic advisor at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS), described the offensive as a “stinging blow” for Putin’s minimum war objective: the conquest of Donbas.
Bolder said that Ukraine managed to keep the operation secret, conducted disinformation campaigns against Russia, and organized an aerial operation for months to disrupt the logistical supply of the front. In addition, Ukrainian forces gained air control in the Liman area, depriving Russia of the possibility of using its drones.
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