Ukrainian Forces Capture Russian Soldiers in Donetsk Amid Operation Vivaldi
Ukrainian troops seized five settlements in northern Donetsk, capturing over 250 Russian soldiers and inflicting significant casualties during the third phase of Operation Vivaldi.
Ukrainian commanders reported that units of the Russian 3rd Army Corps were forced to surrender after the Ukrainian offensive, known as Operation Vivaldi, liberated five key settlements in the northern Donetsk region. The third stage of the operation resulted in more than 2,000 Russian casualties and the capture of over 250 personnel, according to Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi, commander of the 3rd Army Corps.
"The idea that ‘Russians don’t surrender’ from movies in practice turned into entire units surrendering in full—including officers, pilots and artillerymen," Biletskyi said, adding that Kyiv hopes to exchange the prisoners for Ukrainian soldiers held by Russia.
Biletskyi described the Ukrainian advance as a turning point, noting that Russian forces misinterpreted the main attack direction and redirected resources toward a feint in the west. He said the actual assault focused on the logistics hub of Nove, whose surrounding high ground is strategically important.
Ukrainian troops employed a mix of tactics and equipment, including converted Soviet-era armored personnel carriers equipped as unmanned explosive devices to breach fortified positions. Despite being outnumbered and facing Russian aerial drones, Ukrainian units disrupted Russian communications and supply lines, creating corridors for their ground forces.