Ukraine’s Third Army Corps says the third phase of Operation Vivaldi ended with its troops taking Nove, Ridkodub and Katerynivka and restoring control over Karpivka and Novomykhailivka. According to the formation, the advance recovered 51 square kilometers in this phase and brought the total area regained since the offensive began to 176 square kilometers.

The Third Army Corps reported the results on Monday, September 28. Its battlefield claims, including casualty and prisoner figures, have not been independently verified, and conditions along an active front can make timely confirmation difficult.

Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi, the corps commander, presented the operation as a turning point rather than a limited tactical gain. He identified Nove as the central objective because it functioned as a hub on the Russian-held bridgehead. In his account, possession of the surrounding high ground determines who can observe movement, direct fire and maintain the initiative across the area.

The corps says the assault succeeded partly because Russian commanders misread Ukrainian intentions. Biletskyi claimed that the opposing force expected the main attack along the Shandryholove–Zelena Dolyna axis. Russian reserves were consequently drawn into counterattacks there while Ukrainian units prepared the more consequential thrust toward Nove.

Such a maneuver fits the logic of operational deception: convince an adversary that visible activity marks the decisive axis, then concentrate combat power elsewhere. Pulling it off requires more than a feint. Troop movements must remain concealed, communications controlled and the secondary action credible enough to force the opponent to commit scarce reserves.

The Ukrainian account also highlights an unusual breaching tool. Soviet-designed BTR-60 armored personnel carriers were reportedly converted into remotely operated explosive vehicles and sent against the strongest fortifications. Removing the crew allows an obsolete platform to carry a large charge into an exceptionally dangerous zone, although the vehicle can still be stopped by mines, anti-armor weapons, drones or electronic interference.

The adaptation reflects a recurring feature of the war: aging military equipment is being combined with modern controls, cameras and communications to perform roles for which it was never designed. The concept can conserve personnel and use stocks that might otherwise have limited battlefield value. Its effectiveness, however, cannot be assessed without information about the number of vehicles used, the distances involved and how reliably operators maintained control.

The corps put Russian personnel losses at about 2,000 but did not provide a breakdown between those killed, wounded or missing. It also said more than 250 Russian service members were captured, including officers, pilots and artillery personnel. The statement described some formations as surrendering together rather than as isolated individuals.

If confirmed, captures on that scale could indicate disrupted command, encircled positions or the collapse of withdrawal routes. Prisoner footage alone would not establish the full figure, and verification would require time-stamped material, identities and corroboration from additional sources. All prisoners of war remain protected by the Geneva Conventions, regardless of their unit or rank.

The Third Assault Brigade was credited with a central role in breaking the defensive system. Border Guard units also participated: the 3rd Border Detachment named for Hero of Ukraine Colonel Yevhenii Pikus was said to have secured Ridkodub and established new defensive lines, while the 10th Mobile Border Detachment Dozor joined assault actions. The combination suggests an operation involving assault infantry, specialized support and units assigned to consolidate captured ground.

Taking a village or strongpoint is only the first stage of retaining it. Ukrainian troops would now need to clear mines, establish protected supply routes, evacuate casualties and prepare for Russian counterattacks. Control of the nearby elevations may prove more consequential than control of individual buildings because artillery observers and drone teams can make exposed positions difficult to sustain.

The strategic weight of the announcement will ultimately depend on what follows. A 51-square-kilometer gain can alter local geometry and deprive Russia of useful positions, but it does not by itself guarantee a broader breakthrough. Russia may move reserves, intensify reconnaissance and rebuild defensive belts, while Ukraine faces the competing demands of exploiting momentum, protecting its assault formations and preventing supply lines from becoming overstretched.