The Third Army Corps has liberated the villages of Shandryholove and Derylove and established full control over the settlement of Drobysheve in the Lyman area of the Donetsk region as part of its Vivaldi offensive operation. This was reported by Third Army Corps commander Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi.
Biletskyi added that during the second stage of the operation, Ukrainian Defence Forces killed more than 800 Russian troops. Including those wounded and captured, Russia’s total losses now exceed 3,000 personnel.
“During the second stage of Vivaldi, we regained another 40 square kilometres of Ukrainian land. [...] It should be noted that Shandryholove is a critical point both for our forces and for the enemy,” Biletskyi said.
Russian forces continue offensive operations aimed at capturing the remaining parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and establishing full control over Donbas.
Biletskyi said the Third Army Corps is seeking to minimise Ukrainian casualties “by all possible means.” For example, the corps deploys unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) by air, something Biletskyi says his unit is the first in the world to do.
“During assault operations, UAVs and UGVs always move ahead of the infantry. Our heavy bombers deliver kamikaze UGVs more than 10 km behind enemy lines. Missile, artillery and drone strikes against command posts, logistics, crossings and reserves played a critically important role in the success of the operation,” the brigadier general said.
In this sector, the Third Army Corps is facing three Russian formations: the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies and the 1st Guards Tank Army.
