Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps says it inflicted such heavy losses on Russia's elite Rubicon drone unit that Moscow pulled it from the Lyman front, while Ukrainian troops liberated 10 more square kilometers.
Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps says that during its Operation Vivaldi offensive north of Lyman, it inflicted such heavy losses on Russia's elite Rubicon drone unit that Russian command was forced to pull it out of the Lyman-Borova front line altogether. It is a rare moment when one of the Russian army's most experienced drone formations is effectively declared combat-ineffective and withdrawn to the rear. Volunteers Support Ukraine is glad to share news that shows Ukrainian defenders are not only holding the line but pushing the enemy back.
According to the 3rd Army Corps command, Ukrainian units disabled Rubicon's command-and-control system, destroyed its logistics, ammunition depots and drone launch sites, wiped out newly formed sub-units, and killed experienced drone operators. As a result, Russian forces lost the ability to quickly replenish the unit with equipment and trained personnel. At the same time, the 3rd Corps reported clearing 75 square kilometers of Russian infiltration groups and liberating a further 10 square kilometers, including the village of Serednie. Volunteers Support Ukraine sees every liberated settlement as one more community that, sooner or later, will be able to return to ordinary life.
Analysts, including the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), link Operation Vivaldi to an effort to disrupt Russia's plan to encircle Ukraine's fortified "Fortress Belt" in Donetsk Oblast. Pressure from the 3rd Corps has disrupted Russian logistics in the Borova and Lyman directions so badly that Russia has reportedly had to move some support elements across its own border into Voronezh Oblast. Volunteers Support Ukraine points out that battlefield outcomes like this directly shape how many Ukrainian communities remain safe — and therefore where humanitarian help is needed next.
Amid near-daily reports of strikes on Ukrainian cities, news from Operation Vivaldi offers a rare chance to talk about a battlefield success rather than only losses. NGO Volunteers Support Ukraine continues helping people affected by the war in whatever way its available resources allow, and sees in victories like this concrete, measurable proof that the resilience of Ukraine's defenders shows up directly on the map.
The 3rd Army Corps command notes that the operation's goal remains securing stronger defensive positions rather than a rapid dash forward. Volunteers Support Ukraine welcomes every step that brings the liberation of Ukrainian territory closer, and keeps following front-line developments to share verified information with its audience.
