Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the command post of the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade in the Lyman sector on September 30 to award soldiers and meet with commanders. During his visit, Zelensky announced that Ukrainian forces, in cooperation with other units of the Third Army Corps as part of Operation Vivaldi, had reclaimed over 125 square kilometers of territory from Russian occupation.
Brigadier-General Andrii Biletskyi, commander of the 3rd Army Corps, stated on September 28 that Ukrainian forces had liberated three villages in northern Donetsk Oblast: Ridkodub, Nove, and Katerynivka. Full Ukrainian control was also restored over Karpivka and Novomykhailivka. This phase, described as the "third season" of Operation Vivaldi, reportedly resulted in over 2,000 Russian losses and the capture of more than 250 Russian soldiers.
The previous "seasons" of Operation Vivaldi were announced on September 15, when the offensive was named, and on September 20, with the announcement of the liberation of Shandryholove and Derylove. The operation is highlighted as a rare example of offensive success for Ukraine, achieved despite disadvantages in manpower and the dominance of drone warfare on the front line. The 3rd Corps attributes its success to the suppression of Russian drone assets and logistics, and the innovative use of technology, including ground drones.
