Major Russian Defeat As Vivaldi Phase 3 Shocks: Land Gains, 250 Prisoners

In a significant Russian defeat in Donetsk, Ukraine's 3rd Brigade launched the third 'season' of its Operation Vivaldi counteroffensive. In taking Nove, a key regional hub, the Ukrainians executed a 'feint' attack for which the Russians fell, drawing them away from the real target. And to take the most heavily defended positions, the Ukrainians employed old Soviet-era BTR armored personnel carriers converted into kamikaze ground robots which advanced on the Russian defenses and then detonated with massive impact. 

The Ukrainian attack so surprised the Russians that over 250 Kremlin troops were captured, some entire units which included drone operators and artillerymen who are usually a relatively substantial distance behind the front line. This is a crushing blow for the Russians as it reveals the Kremlin's forces susceptibility to Ukraine's enhanced technological and strategic strength. JL

Olena Mukhina reports in Euromaidan Press:

Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps defeated Russia at the key settlement of Nove in Donetsk by pointing it the wrong way. Russia had poured its reserves into counterattacks on a feint axis and "slept through" the real strike, in the decisive third season of the Vivaldi offensive. To break the strongest fortifications, it used Soviet BTR-60 armored carriers converted into remote-controlled kamikaze robots, driven into Russia's toughest positions and detonated. Over its first two "seasons," the 3rd Army Corps and attached units retook more than 176 square kilometers and inflicted more than 3,000 casualties on Russian forces. The assault in Nove was its "third season," the turning point of the whole operation. The corps added 51 square kilometers to that taken since the offensive began. Ukrainian forces also took 250 Russians captive as entire units including drone operators, surrendered.

Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps has defeated Russia at the key settlement of Nove in Donetsk Oblast by pointing it the wrong way. Russia has poured its reserves into counterattacks on a feint axis and "slept through" the real strike, which took the important hub in the village and closed the decisive third season of the Vivaldi offensive, commander Andrii Biletskyi said. 

Vivaldi is Ukraine's counteroffensive aimed at disrupting Russian forces' plans to encircle the fortress-belt cities in Donetsk Oblast from the north and south. Among them are Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, and Kostiantynivka. These cities have helped hold back Russian forces since 2014.

Over its first two "seasons," the 3rd Army Corps and attached units have retaken more than 125 square kilometers, half of it de-occupied outright, and inflicted more than 3,000 casualties on Russian forces.

The operation in Nove was its "third season," Biletskyi said, the turning point of the whole operation. The corps liberated Nove, Ridkodub, and Katerynivka and restored control of Karpivka and Novomykhailivka, adding 51 square kilometers to the 176 that had been liberated since the offensive began. Ukrainian forces have taken 250 Russians captive.

The feint drew Russia's reserves

The victory, by Biletskyi's account, was won by deception.

"The enemy was convinced the main direction of the strike was Shandryholove–Zelena Dolyna," he revealed, and it burned its reserves counterattacking there.

He added that the Russians slept through the real strike, which was concentrated on taking Nove. The village was the prize, a key Russian hub on the bridgehead, ringed by heights that command the surrounding ground.

"Who controls the heights holds the initiative," Biletskyi said.

By spending its reserves on the wrong axis, he suggested, Russia had little left to hold Nove when the real assault arrived.

Old APCs crack the defense

To break the strongest fortifications, the corps said, it used a homemade weapon: Soviet BTR-60 armored carriers converted into remote-controlled kamikaze robots, driven into Russia's toughest positions and detonated.

In 2024, the Ukrainian forces received another local upgrade of the post-Soviet BTR-60 wheeled armored personnel carrier. This time it was fitted with the BM-7 "Parus" turret, known from the BTR-4 "Bucephalus" The main armament consisted of a 30 mm ZTM-1 automatic cannon paired with a 7.62 mm KT-7.62 universal machine gun.

Additional armament might include a set of four anti-tank guided missile launchers mounted on the sides, or two launchers and a 30 mm KBA-117 automatic grenade launcher. As a result, this upgraded BTR-60 saw a significant improvement in firepower, although the vehicle still has very weak armor and less-than-optimal access to the troop compartment.

It was the latest of the corps' robotic improvisations in Vivaldi, which have included air-dropped ground drones and Bullspike grenade-launcher-armed UGVs. They are Bulgarian hand-held, rocket-propelled anti-tank grenade launchers based on the Soviet RPG-22, which the Bulgarian defense industry previously produced under license.

The corps has leaned on such machines throughout the operation to keep its infantry out of the deadliest fights.

Whole units surrender

As the defense broke down, Russians gave up in groups, including officers, pilots, and artillery soldiers, the corps said. The 3rd Assault Brigade carried much of the fighting, while the 3rd Border Guard Detachment, named for the fallen Colonel Yevhen Pikus, retook Ridkodub and dug in on the new line, with the 10th Mobile Border Guard Detachment "DOZOR" taking an active part in the assault.