OMM Newsroom
Ukraine says a counter-offensive in the eastern Donbas has recaptured 277 square kilometres (106 square miles) in recent months, pushing Russian forces back and blunting an attempt to encircle key cities still under Ukrainian control. The BBC reported from the front line.
Kyiv has named the campaign Operation Vivaldi, referring to its four stages, likened to the seasons in the Italian composer’s violin concerto. Ukrainian officials say Russian forces suffered 8,000 casualties during the operation and nearly 50,000 along the front in September, while Ukraine’s losses were limited.
The Institute for the Study of War said pro-Russian military bloggers had acknowledged Ukrainian advances and voiced concern they could lead to further Russian losses. Russian Defence Ministry briefings have described forces as repelling attacks in the Lyman region or improving their tactical position, without publicly acknowledging the reported Ukrainian gains.
Drones and satellite links on the front line
Russian drones remain a constant threat, with one Ukrainian unit commander, identified by the call-sign Phoenix, telling the BBC that his men face an average of 10 a day. In one incident, a Ukrainian drone carrying a net captured a Russian reconnaissance drone before it could identify soldiers and potentially guide an attack.
The battlefield depends heavily on digital connections for surveillance, movement, communications and strikes. Ukraine uses “Starshield”, the military version of Elon Musk’s “Starlink” satellite communications network, to provide connectivity, including for interceptor and mid-range strike drones.
Ukraine said this week that restrictions had been imposed on the system without warning, limiting its capabilities. Media reports and Musk suggested the order may have come from the White House. The BBC reported that although Ukraine is not wholly reliant on “Starshield”, the possibility of restrictions without consultation has caused concern.
Unmanned ground vehicles are also used to deliver supplies, evacuate wounded troops and, increasingly, lead assaults. Ukrainian commanders said robots and drones spearheaded the operation, while remotely controlled explosive vehicles were used behind Russian lines for the first time; they said 250 Russian soldiers surrendered.
Soldiers return after 95 days on the front line
Infantryman Dealer said his unit moved positions four times during more than three months of fighting. He described remotely piloted Russian drones as the most frightening threat. Phoenix said troops had trained for months and had to overhaul their approach, switching from defence to an offensive.
Ukrainian commanders say a year-long campaign has freed 16 settlements from Russian occupation. In Karpivka, which had been occupied since April, troops found 61-year-old Volodymyr Zamota, the only resident remaining after neighbours fled the Russian advance in 2025. He said he had survived eight months in isolation and that the village was almost completely destroyed.
Residents are still at risk if they return, and many may have no intact homes, the BBC reported. Andriy Hitt, chief of staff of the Revenge Brigade, said the operation’s value lay in securing advantageous positions and a bridgehead for future manoeuvres.
The gains could be affected by limits on US technology and intelligence, as relations between Kyiv and Washington have deteriorated. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he felt “betrayed” by Donald Trump, who said he was “not a fan” of Zelensky and described him as harder to deal with than Vladimir Putin.
Trump said Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries had pushed up oil prices, while Ukraine blamed the US-Israeli war against Iran. Despite the diplomatic tensions, soldiers interviewed by the BBC said morale was high. Dealer said Operation Vivaldi had renewed his belief that Ukraine could win the war.
