"The Enemy Couldn't Figure Out What Was Happening, And By The Time They Did, It Was Already Too Late."
- 26.09.2026, 13:25
A participant in Operation "Vivaldi" revealed the details.
The Third Army Corps’ operation “Vivaldi” in the Liman direction served as a unique example of how, even when facing a numerically superior enemy, it is possible to effectively clear temporarily occupied territories of enemy infiltration and liberate them. Careful planning, effective tactics, coordinated work among units, and the element of surprise—all of these played a key role in regaining control over 125 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory.
The 1st Mechanized Battalion, part of the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Mstislav the Brave, took part in the liberation of the village of Sredneye in the Donetsk region. The soldiers stormed into the village in armored vehicles from an impassable direction that took the enemy by surprise and were able to retake the settlement without any casualties or injuries.
In an exclusive interview OBOZ.UA, the commander of the 1st Mechanized Battalion of the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Mstislav the Brave, who took part in Operation “Vivaldi” alongside the Third Army Corps, with the call sign “Bacon,” shared details about this unique special operation.
– Can “Vivaldi” be called a special operation? Or is it more of a tactical-level operation to liberate occupied territories? How would you classify this operation?
– As of today, I consider it a special operation, since a large number of units were involved, planning took place at the corps level, and the scale of the operation must also be taken into account. Therefore, this is not merely a tactical-level operation, one that is taking place not only in our sector but also in the neighboring one.
– How do you assess the significance of what was achieved during Operation “Vivaldi”? Can we say that the enemy’s intentions to encircle the “belt of fortresses” have been reduced to zero?
– I believe it is not entirely accurate to say that the enemy’s plans and intentions have been reduced to zero. They will be nullified when we fully restore control, liberate all of our country’s territory, and inflict crushing losses on the enemy to prevent it from launching another “special military operation” on Ukrainian soil.
Therefore, it is perhaps better to say that we are working to create as many difficulties as possible for the enemy and to establish conditions under which its intentions and plans will never come to fruition. At the same time, they will constantly try to come up with something new, because—from both a military and a political standpoint—it is absolutely essential for them to gain complete control over the territories of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
So, we are awaiting any new enemy plans or strategies, which we will also strive to thwart. Thanks to corps-level planning and the planning of Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky, I am confident that we will succeed in preventing the enemy from advancing in this direction.
– You said that the Defense Forces need to create maximum difficulties for the enemy. In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge for the enemy today?
– Generally speaking, the greatest military challenge for the enemy will be forcing them to fight our battle. When the enemy has to adapt to the conditions we create for them—conditions that we control—rather than when we have to adjust to the enemy’s actions. We impose our own style of combat and our own terms on them, and they react accordingly. When this happens quickly enough, they make mistakes and take wrong steps, which lead to our success and, for the enemy, to losses and the inability to accomplish certain tasks. Therefore, this is perhaps the most important thing we need to do.
– You entered the Sredny region from a direction that was considered impassable. How was this possible? What technology was used?
– First of all, we operated in areas in areas that were indeed more challenging in terms of vehicle and infantry movement, but the use of ground-based robotic systems, as well as certain technological innovations and improvements to the technical specifications of our armored vehicles, allowed us to enhance their all-terrain capability. Thus, the planning work we carried out allowed us to overcome these sections. However, we will not fully disclose the details of how this was made possible or what technical modifications were implemented.
– After Sredny, you cleared the forest areas north of the village. What is the situation there now, and is the enemy trying to retake lost positions?
– Yes, in some areas the enemy has not yet realized its situation, so it still considers certain areas to be under its control. In those areas, our forces have set up ambushes, while other areas are under constant pressure from both enemy air forces and infantry.
It is now absolutely critical for them to regain control of the commanding heights, so pressure from the enemy is present. But thanks to the coordinated efforts of all units of the Third Army Corps, and because this operation has been planned not only for today but also for subsequent stages, everyone knows how to proceed. Furthermore, in the areas where we are advancing, we are actively deploying ground-based robotic systems and electronic warfare equipment, which allows us to advance in certain areas completely unnoticed by the enemy—either to encircle them or to close in to critical distances, where the infantry then takes over.
This coordinated effort confuses the enemy; they do not understand where, from where, or from which direction our advance is coming. Again, this is not about a single unit advancing, but about coordinated operations. Therefore, even if the enemy puts up very strong resistance in a particular sector, other groups move in from the other side to encircle, push through, and destroy him, allowing other groups to advance and proceed according to plan.
– You mentioned that the National Republican Corps (NRC) and electronic warfare assets were deployed. What about the drone component? What role did it play in Operation “Vivaldi”?
– In Operation “Vivaldi,” the drone component is also a very powerful element. Drones are used for reconnaissance and to strike, in particular, enemy ground targets in rear concentration areas and along logistics routes, as well as in the role of interceptor drones. In all sectors—both in the air and on the ground—drones are striking the enemy.
This set of actions prevents the enemy from seizing the initiative at any level—whether in the air or on the ground. Drones are now our most powerful weapon. Thanks to the operations of both aerial and ground-based drones, we are exerting a very strong and powerful influence on the course of events. Given that any offensive operations also involve logistical considerations, ground-based robotic systems are used for logistical support missions, as well as for evacuation and the delivery of ammunition, provisions, etc.
– Capturing and clearing a populated area without a single casualty is a great rarity in assault operations. Military theory holds that the attacking side suffers greater losses than the defending side. How did you manage to liberate Srednee without any casualties?
– We need to clarify something here. We’re talking about the absence of fatalities during the final stage—specifically, during the de-occupation of the settlement itself and the operations that led to the enemy losing control of it and its complete return to our control. But the liberation of any settlement begins with operations around it. So there was a lengthy build-up to this.
When we attempted to capture the dominant heights surrounding the settlement and secure the movement routes—to prevent the enemy from occupying areas from which they could freely observe the approaches to the settlement—very fierce and intense fighting took place. The enemy had absolutely no desire to lose these positions.
The operation in the settlement itself, however, was indeed one that was carried out without any casualties on our side. The enemy was unable to react quickly; they did not expect us, and thanks to the operation’s highly competent planning and the efforts of all units of the Third Corps, we managed to deliver crushing blows against the enemy’s artillery, at enemy launch sites, and at the anti-tank weapons deployed in that sector, and to apply such intense suppressive fire that for about an hour the enemy could not figure out what was happening. And by the time they did figure it out, we were already right inside the settlement, and nearly half of it was under our control. From there, it was simply a matter of technique—to build on our success. The enemy was unable to recover.
– What was the most challenging part of the operation?
– In fact, every stage is very complex and important. Starting at the very top, there’s the complexity of planning an operation of this scale. It’s a multi-layered, very painstaking process, and everyone involved did a tremendous job. The work planned by Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky was simply titanic.
Furthermore, speaking of our sector—where my unit alone was operating—the most challenging areas were the strongpoints around Sredne, as they were the key to further success. The enemy understood this and therefore mounted the fiercest, most brutal fire resistance here in an attempt to regain their positions around this settlement.
After that, we advanced fairly quickly, and once we had broken through the first line of defense, the enemy became somewhat less active and began to adapt to the actions we were forcing upon them. In some areas, they couldn’t keep up; in others, there was a breakdown in communication, while we achieved success. That was, perhaps, the most difficult section.
– During Operation “Vivaldi,” the “gray zones”—areas where the enemy had managed to infiltrate—were cleared. Infiltration remains the enemy’s most “popular” method of seizing territory. Why is it difficult to counter? What is the secret of your unit, which managed to carry out the sweep? Can other units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces draw on your experience?
– Indeed, enemy infiltration poses significant challenges. First and foremost, the enemy attempts to penetrate areas along which logistics routes run and where both vehicles and infantry move. As for any specific know-how on our part, there isn’t really any. First and foremost, we cleared the areas that were absolutely essential for us to move our troops and our vehicles.
Once our advance routes and supply lines were completely cleared, we began clearing the adjacent territories surrounding our defensive sector. Apparently, the fact that we began clearing out infiltrators from the areas that were most strategic and essential to us—and only then built on our success—played a very significant role.
Furthermore, we must understand that infiltration poses challenges for the enemy as well. After all, these are isolated positions; logistics are delivered there exclusively via drones, or they sustain themselves with whatever they find while on the move. Therefore, by working on the approaches and cutting off the enemy’s supply lines, we made it impossible for them to advance further or secure ammunition, provisions, and so on. Because of this, at a certain point, the enemy was starving and demoralized at certain positions.
Therefore, by acting in two directions—clearing the territories themselves and inflicting defeat, as well as preventing the enemy’s logistical approaches to our positions—we achieved this result. It is impossible to rely on just one method; that would have no effect. Only the combination of all these methods led to success.
– Operation “Vivaldi,” judging by its name, involves several stages or “seasons” (if we recall Vivaldi’s most famous work, “The Four Seasons”). What stage is Operation “Vivaldi” currently in? Will there indeed be a continuation?
– Thank you for the question, but I think I’ll leave it without a specific answer. Operation “Vivaldi” was planned by the corps commander. I think it would be best if he himself were to disclose information about further actions regarding our advance and any operations. The only thing I can say is: stay tuned to our broadcasts, follow the developments—to be continued.
– What does your unit and the Third Army Corps as a whole need in order to effectively carry out the tasks of de-occupying Ukrainian territory? In your opinion, what is the main issue that needs to be resolved so that the Defense Forces can effectively liberate Ukrainian territories?
– You see, it’s impossible to give a single, clear-cut answer to this question. Why? Because just as we monitor the enemy’s media, so do they monitor us. If we say that we’re lacking something, we’re effectively revealing our weaknesses to the enemy.
It’s fair to say that we’ll constantly be lacking something, because we want to accomplish our mission of de-occupying all of Ukraine’s territory as quickly as possible. Right now, as always, all branches of the Armed Forces require comprehensive support.
At this point, we already have extensive experience; we have the desire and the ability to carry out military missions to de-occupy our territories and reclaim them. And the more support we have, the faster we will be able to do so.
We can currently implement our plans and strategies on a small scale, but as we receive additional personnel and resources, we can scale this up and accomplish it even faster. The more personnel we have, the more resources we have, and the more weapons we have, the faster our work will be completed. But it will be completed in any case.