Zelensky thanks troops after 125 sq km reclaimed in Lyman

Zelensky thanks troops after 125 sq km reclaimed in Lyman

President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade’s command post in the Lyman area on 30 September, thanking the troops for recapturing more than 125 square kilometres of territory during Operation Vivaldi, according to The Kyiv Independent. Ukraine’s Third Army Corps said its use of heavy bomber drones to air-drop unmanned ground vehicles more than 10 km behind Russian lines helped seize the reclaimed area, a tactic first employed in the conflict.

The corps also deployed the robots to clear 30 km of mines in Shandryholove and to lay mines at night, accelerating assaults. Earlier in the offensive, Ukrainian forces halted a Russian push near Druzhkivka, claiming hundreds of enemy casualties, and captured several villages and settlements in Donetsk, seizing over 250 Russian soldiers.

Actors

Ukraine's Third Army Corps Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi Russian forces

Locations

Donetsk region Lyman Shandryholove Derylove Drobysheve
Verdict: Insufficient evidence Confidence: 22% Claims: 1
At a glance

The claim that unmanned ground systems cleared 30 kilometres of mines in two nights, a process that would have taken sapper units a week according to Ukraine's Third Army Corps, has insufficient evidence. No claims were confirmed, partially confirmed, or refuted based on the available fact-check results.

Sign in or subscribe to unlock the full breakdown: claims, sources, and validations.

This section contains an automated verification of claims against external sources and may contain inaccuracies.

Articles

September 30, 2026
1 total
Zelensky praises troops after reclaiming 125 sq km in Lyman sector
Zelensky praises troops after reclaiming 125 sq km in Lyman sector

The Kyiv Independent • 30 Sep 12:08

President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade’s command post in the Lyman area, thanking soldiers for recapturing more than 125 square kilometres during Operation Vivaldi.

Credibility 72% Manip. 32% Center
September 29, 2026
1 total
Ukraine uses unmanned armored vehicles in Operation Vivaldi, reports capture of 250 Russian soldiers
Ukraine uses unmanned armored vehicles in Operation Vivaldi, reports capture of 250 Russian soldiers

New York Post • 29 Sep 21:47

Ukraine deployed modified Soviet-era BTR-60 vehicles in a counter-offensive that resulted in the surrender of about 250 Russian troops, according to military officials.

Credibility 46% Manip. 58% Center
September 28, 2026
3 total
Ukrainian Forces Capture Russian Soldiers in Donetsk Amid Operation Vivaldi
Ukrainian Forces Capture Russian Soldiers in Donetsk Amid Operation Vivaldi

The Daily Beast • 28 Sep 14:53

Ukrainian troops seized five settlements in northern Donetsk, capturing over 250 Russian soldiers and inflicting significant casualties during the third phase of Operation Vivaldi.

Credibility 55% Manip. 45% Left
Ukraine claims to recapture 51 sq km and seize key settlement in Lyman offensive
Ukraine claims to recapture 51 sq km and seize key settlement in Lyman offensive

Kyiv Post • 28 Sep 10:05

Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps said its forces reclaimed 51 square kilometres and captured more than 250 Russian soldiers during the third stage of Operation Vivaldi in the Lyman sector.

Credibility 72% Manip. 14% Center
Ukrainian Corps Uses Ground and Aerial Drones for Night Mine-laying and Daytime Assaults
Ukrainian Corps Uses Ground and Aerial Drones for Night Mine-laying and Daytime Assaults

Business Insider • 28 Sep 07:30

Ukraine's Third Army Corps employs uncrewed ground vehicles and aerial drones to lay mines at night and conduct attacks by day, speeding up operations and reducing soldier exposure.

Credibility 68% Manip. 8% Center
September 26, 2026
1 total
Ukraine says airdropped ground robots recaptured territory in Donetsk
Ukraine says airdropped ground robots recaptured territory in Donetsk

nypost.com • 26 Sep 17:45

Ukraine's Third Army Corps reported that unmanned ground vehicles were airdropped behind Russian lines, resulting in the recapture of five villages and three settlements in Donetsk.

Credibility 32% Manip. 48% Right
September 24, 2026
3 total
Ukraine deploys drone-dropped robots and mine-clearing units in Operation Vivaldi
Ukraine deploys drone-dropped robots and mine-clearing units in Operation Vivaldi

Ars Technica • 24 Sep 18:39

Ukraine’s Third Army Corps used heavy drones to air-drop combat robots behind Russian lines and ground robots to clear mines, supporting a counteroffensive that has reclaimed territory in the Donetsk region.

Credibility 68% Manip. 45% Center
Ukraine reports recapture of 125 sq km near Lyman in Operation Vialdi
Ukraine reports recapture of 125 sq km near Lyman in Operation Vialdi

TWZ • 24 Sep 17:54

Ukrainian forces say they have regained about 125 square kilometres around Lyman after restructuring the Third Army Corps and stabilising the front before launching an offensive.

Credibility 66% Manip. 46% Center
Ukrainian ground robots clear 30 km of mines in Shandryholove
Ukrainian ground robots clear 30 km of mines in Shandryholove

UNITED24 Media • 24 Sep 09:33

Unmanned ground systems removed 30 kilometres of mines in two nights, a task that would have taken sapper units a week, according to Ukraine's Third Army Corps.

Credibility 72% Manip. 9% Center
September 23, 2026
2 total
Azov Brigade reports destruction of Russian unit and halts encirclement attempt near Druzhkivka
Azov Brigade reports destruction of Russian unit and halts encirclement attempt near Druzhkivka

Kyiv Post • 23 Sep 15:30

Ukraine's Azov Brigade said its two-month operation eliminated a Russian troop grouping, killed 193 soldiers and prevented an attempted encirclement of Druzhkivka and advance toward Dobropillya.

Credibility 55% Manip. 30% Center
Ukrainian forces halt Russian advance near Druzhkivka, claim 237 enemy killed
Ukrainian forces halt Russian advance near Druzhkivka, claim 237 enemy killed

UNITED24 Media • 23 Sep 11:44

Ukraine says its units stopped a Russian effort to encircle Druzhkivka in Donetsk, reporting 237 Russian soldiers killed and preventing access to key supply routes.

Credibility 46% Manip. 32% Center
September 22, 2026
1 total
Ukrainian Corps Uses Drone-Delivered Ground Robots to Reclaim Territory Near Lyman
Ukrainian Corps Uses Drone-Delivered Ground Robots to Reclaim Territory Near Lyman

Business Insider • 22 Sep 10:42

Ukraine's Third Army Corps says its drone-launched robotic systems have helped recapture about 125 square kilometres around Lyman, including 50 square kilometres previously held by Russian forces.

Credibility 68% Manip. 32% Center
September 21, 2026
1 total
Ukraine says it deployed ground robots via bomber drones behind Russian lines
Ukraine says it deployed ground robots via bomber drones behind Russian lines

Newsweek • 21 Sep 16:29

Ukraine's Third Army Corps claims it launched unmanned ground vehicles from heavy bomber drones more than 10 km into Russian-held territory as part of Operation Vivaldi, marking a reported first in the conflict.

Credibility 72% Manip. 35% Center