Solutions to win: Ukrainian troops deploy heavy drones to air-drop ground robots behind Russian lines
Biletskyi declared that this operation is the first of its kind in the world.
The Third Army Corps explained that they used robotic equipment out of the need to save the lives of Ukrainian service members.
In parallel, Ukrainian troops deployed a complex set of electronic warfare (EW) and air defense systems. They used these assets to "blind" Russian reconnaissance drones and prevent them from detecting the actions of Ukrainian forces.
The military explained that, thanks to electronic warfare and air defenses, Russian forces failed to uncover the operation's plan.
In addition to using ground robots, Ukrainian troops are conducting counteroffensive actions in the northern Donetsk region as part of Operation Vivaldi.
As previously reported, Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi, commander of the Third Army Corps, stated today that during the second stage of the counteroffensive operation, Ukrainian forces liberated the settlements of Shandryholove and Derylove. Ukrainian troops also brought Drobysheve under full control.
Reports indicate that in the first and second seasons of the Vivaldi offensive operation, the Third Army Corps and attached units brought 125 square kilometers of territory back under Ukrainian control, liberating 50 square kilometers from Russian occupation.
Furthermore, Ukrainian forces eliminated another 800 Russian soldiers. In total, Russian losses across both seasons of Operation Vivaldi exceed 3,000 personnel. The corps continues to wear down the offensive potential of three Russian armies simultaneously — the 20th, 25th, and 1st Guards Tank Armies.
As noted, "the soldiers of the 60th Separate Mechanized Brigade, 125th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade, the battalion tactical group of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, the 21st Separate Special Operations Battalion KRAKEN, the 3rd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion, and the corps's 25th Separate Anti-Tank Battalion, as well as attached units — the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade, the tactical group of the 8th Special Operation Forces' Regiment, the Main Intelligence Directorate's 'Artan' special unit, and the 10th 'Dozor' Mobile Border Detachment — ensured the success of the second season."
The Ukrainian analytical project DeepState also confirmed the liberation of Shandryholove and Derylove, as well as the advance of Ukrainian troops near Shandryholove.
In recent weeks, statements began appearing online from OSINT commentators and military blogs reporting that Ukraine eliminated the Russian salient north of Lyman and liberated dozens of square kilometers of territory.
It is worth mentioning that on September 15, Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi, commander of the Third Army Corps, confirmed a counteroffensive in the northern Donetsk region, naming the operation Vivaldi. During its first stage, Ukrainian forces cleared 75 square kilometers.
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21 of September 2026
