How Ukraine HUMILIATED Russia’s 20th Army (Operation Vivaldi)

Summary

The presenter describes Operation Vivaldi as a Ukrainian counteroffensive by the Third Army Corps that dismantled much of a Russian bridgehead west of the Zherebets River, north of Lyman. He argues that the operation reversed much of Russia’s recent territorial progress in the sector, reduced pressure on Lyman’s supply routes, and disrupted the Russian 20th Army. However, he emphasizes that the operation was costly and that claims about its scale from both sides should be treated cautiously.

Why Ukraine acted

Russian forces had expanded their bridgehead, threatening Lyman, the route toward the Oskil River, and local supply lines. The presenter disputes claims that Ukraine faced a decisive Russian numerical advantage, arguing that the Russian 20th Army was stretched across a long front and short of personnel.

How the counteroffensive began

In May, Ukrainian forces launched a mechanized assault near Nove. According to the presenter, reconnaissance teams identified gaps, ground robots helped clear mines, and electronic warfare disrupted Russian drones. Ukrainian vehicles suffered losses, but infantry reportedly entered the settlement and captured Russian troops.

The infiltration campaign

Rather than relying only on armored assaults, Ukrainian teams of roughly three or four soldiers moved between forest belts and gullies, advancing behind Russian lines. The presenter argues that this approach exploited gaps in Russian defenses and made it difficult for an overstretched Russian force to respond. Ukrainian forces also used drones, artillery, ground robots, and attacks on Russian logistics.

Reconstructing the fighting

The presenter combines geolocated videos, Russian Telegram posts, and satellite imagery showing bomb and artillery craters to trace Ukrainian advances from May through August. He cautions that crater maps are not conclusive: imagery cannot always identify who caused a strike, and some apparent evidence could reflect Ukrainian artillery or explosive-laden ground robots rather than Russian air attacks.

Four phases and contested claims

Ukrainian announcements later presented the operation in four phases, with flag-raising videos and claims of captured settlements. The presenter says Russian footage and reports also show fighting and Ukrainian losses, and that some Ukrainian videos may have been recorded earlier than claimed.

He specifically questions a Ukrainian claim that 250 Russian troops were captured, saying the available footage appears to show about 60. He also notes uncertainty over whether some footage shows current control or isolated soldiers left behind.

Reported outcome

By the operation’s later stages, the presenter judges that Ukraine had retaken much of the bridgehead west of the river and reopened breathing room north of Lyman. He does not claim that every settlement or position was cleared: Russian forces likely retained small bridgeheads east of the river and some contested areas. He also suggests the Ukrainian operation may have drawn troops from other sectors.

Costs and strategic value

The presenter estimates, based on Russian drone footage and reports, that Ukrainian losses may have reached roughly 450 fatalities. He emphasizes that this is an incomplete estimate that cannot be independently verified. He also cites Ukrainian claims of more than 8,000 Russian troops killed or wounded and 270 captured, but says those figures are likewise unverifiable. Russian sources reported destroying many Ukrainian vehicles and ground robots.

The presenter argues that ground robots may have reduced the danger to Ukrainian personnel, but concludes that Vivaldi was an expensive operation.

Overall assessment

In the presenter’s view, the gains were operationally valuable: they shortened Ukraine’s line, helped protect Lyman and its supply routes, and demonstrated that corps-level forces could mount limited counteroffensives. He also raises a counterargument: Russia may have accepted the loss of a less strategically important bridgehead if the fighting exhausted Ukraine’s elite Third Army Corps.

Presenters and contributors

• HistoryLegends presenter — Unnamed narrator and analyst.
• Defense Politics Asia — Consulted on the possible presence of remaining Russian forces in the sector.