Russia's strategic plans to encircle the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk urban area and close the encirclement near the town of Barvinkove have been thwarted by the successful execution of Operation Vivaldi, according to Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi, Commander of the Centre Group of Forces.
At a press conference in Kharkiv, the brigadier general explained that the primary objective of Operation Vivaldi was to disrupt Russian offensive operations.
"The enemy's key objective for 2026 has been destroyed. Therefore, the strategic significance of this operation is measured not in kilometres, but in the fact that the enemy's main plan has been thwarted. That plan was to encircle the entire Donetsk region, including Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, advancing towards Barvinkove and capturing Donetsk region through two converging attacks. This plan has been disrupted," Biletskyi said.
He explained which Russian forces had been involved: the 1st Guards Tank Army and the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies, deployed by Russia's Western Group of Forces. Their task was to advance towards Sviatohirsk and the settlement of Rubtsi from a bridgehead established on the Chornyi Zherebets River.
"The aim was to split our grouping on the eastern bank of the Oskil River into two parts, destroy it and then continue advancing towards Barvinkove in the southern part of Kharkiv region. This was Russia's strategic plan. The idea was that, with one strike through Sviatohirsk, using the salient that we have now eliminated and bypassing Lyman, the enemy would encircle the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk urban area from the north. A second strike, through the settlements around Dobropillia and the city of Dobropillia towards Barvinkove, would complete the encirclement of the entire Donetsk region," Biletskyi explained.
The general emphasised that Russia had intended to achieve what he described as the Kremlin's "key political objective": the complete occupation of Donetsk region.
Biletskyi added that this was Russia's plan for 2026, which Russian forces had begun implementing in 2025.
"They were supposed to reach Barvinkove during 2026. Now, towards the end of 2026, they face a different situation. As a result of the destruction of this bridgehead and the advancing force, the 144th Division of the 20th Army has effectively been defeated.
"Because the offensive grouping has been destroyed, the enemy has, for the time being, abandoned its attempt to outflank Donetsk region," the brigadier general said.
According to Biletskyi, Russian forces still have several options for operations in the Donetsk sector.
In particular, Russia could attempt a direct frontal assault on Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. However, the general said such an operation would require substantial forces, result in heavy losses and offer no guarantee of success.
"The enemy has temporarily abandoned this plan, although it intends to resume it," he added.
Biletskyi noted that Russia's remaining main direction of effort is Dobropillia, where its forces have achieved some success and have not yet abandoned that part of their pincer movement.
"Therefore, the importance of this operation lies primarily not in the number of kilometres gained, nor simply in the fact that the Third Corps reached the Chornyi Zherebets River, shortening its front line and gaining the ability to significantly increase the density of infantry positions, UAV positions and artillery per square kilometre. In other words, it has made our defences denser, more sustainable and harder to penetrate. The importance of the operation is that Russia's strategic intentions have been thwarted. This is what it means to force the enemy to abandon its plan. That is the key point. Now they have to undertake serious planning and replanning, which is a difficult and costly task," Biletskyi emphasised.
He described Operation Vivaldi as unique, particularly because it was conducted under exceptionally difficult conditions.
Biletskyi stressed that Ukrainian forces had launched an offensive against a numerically superior enemy and achieved considerable success despite being outnumbered.
The operation lasted from May until mid-October and involved personnel from the Third Assault Brigade, the 60th Separate Mechanised Brigade, the 125th Separate Heavy Mechanised Brigade, the 3rd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion, the 25th Separate Anti-Tank Battalion and the 21st Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment KRAKEN.
Additional units involved included the 66th Separate Mechanised Brigade, the 3rd Border Guard Detachment, the 10th Mobile Border Guard Detachment Dozor, tactical groups from the 8th Special Operations Forces Regiment, the National Guard's Lasar's Group, the K-2 unit of the Unmanned Systems Forces, and unmanned systems units of the Security Service of Ukraine's Special Operations Centre A.
