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Map Shows Scale of Ukraine's New Battlefield Gains in Major Counteroffensive
Newsweek • • world
Key Points:
- Ukrainian forces have confirmed a counteroffensive operation named "Vivaldi," which has successfully eliminated the Russian salient north of Lyman in Donetsk oblast, thwarting Vladimir Putin's war goals in the region.
- Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi reported that Ukrainian troops liberated 32 square miles, including Serednie, and inflicted heavy losses on Russian 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies, with drone strikes disrupting Russian supply lines.
- Analysts note that Ukraine's advances have stopped Russia's attempts to encircle the heavily fortified "Fortress Belt" in Donetsk, although progress has slowed recently, and further gains may be limited.
- Despite these successes, experts warn that the coming winter will be challenging for Ukraine as Russia is expected to intensify attacks on critical infrastructure and continue efforts to exhaust Ukrainian society.
- Russian military bloggers acknowledge difficulties in recapturing lost positions near Lyman, and internal Russian reports suggest exaggerated claims of battlefield gains have contributed to setbacks.
