Ukrainian forces claim to have completed the third stage of Operation “Vivaldi”, carried out in the Donetsk region, as a result of which five localities would have been liberated and over 250 Russian soldiers captured.
According to the information presented by the commander of the Third Army Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Andrii Biletski, Ukrainian troops have reclaimed 51 square kilometers of territory in this stage.
In the third phase of the “Vivaldi” operation, Ukrainian military claim to have liberated the localities of Novoye, Ridkodub, and Katerinivka and regained control over the localities of Karpovka and Novomikhailivka, reports Dialog.
Approximately 2,000 losses among Russian troops
According to statements by Andrii Biletski, Russian troops allegedly suffered approximately 2,000 losses during operations, and over 250 soldiers would have surrendered to Ukrainian forces.
The main objective of this phase was Novoie, described by the Ukrainian command as a significant point of the Russian military apparatus in the area.
Biletski asserts that the Russian army was misled about the main direction of the Ukrainian attack. According to him, the Russian troops were expecting an offensive in the Shandrigolovo-Zelenaia Dolina direction and would have concentrated their reserves there for counterattacks.
“The enemy was convinced that the main line of attack was Shandrigolovo-Zelenaya Dolina. This forced them to senselessly consume their reserves in counterattacks in this direction. The Russians missed the real attack, which was focused on the conquest of the city of Novoie”, stated the Ukrainian commander.
Vehicles transformed into robotic weapons
To breach the fortified Russian positions, the Ukrainian forces used, among others, Soviet-made BTR-60 vehicles, transformed into robotic systems loaded with explosives.
According to the Ukrainian source, these were used to destroy fortifications considered difficult to conquer through conventional attacks.
During the operations, Ukrainian military personnel claim that members of Russian units, including officers, pilots, and artillerymen, have surrendered.
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