Ukraine's military says Operation Vivaldi, a counter-offensive in the eastern Donbas region, has liberated 277 square kilometers in recent months and inflicted around 8,000 Russian casualties in the operation alone. The offensive, named for its four stages like Vivaldi's violin concerto, blunted a Russian attempt to encircle key Ukrainian-held cities. Ukrainian commanders say they suffered few casualties in return.
The offensive relied heavily on Starshield, the military version of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite network, which provided broadband connectivity for drones and communications across the battlefield. On the conclusion of Operation Vivaldi this week, Ukraine reported that restrictions had been imposed on Starshield without warning, limiting their capability. Musk and media reports suggest the order may have come from the White House. Ukraine is not wholly dependent on Starshield but uses it as a vital tool for interceptor and mid-range strike drones. The unexpected restrictions sparked concern in Ukraine.
The offensive integrated drones and unmanned ground vehicles into layered defense and attack systems monitored from command bunkers. Ukrainian soldiers faced constant Russian drone threats, averaging 10 reconnaissance drones per day. Ukrainian attack drones countered these by dropping nets on enemy spotters that would otherwise call in armed drones. Remote-controlled explosive vehicles were dropped behind Russian lines for the first time, resulting in 250 Russian surrenders according to Ukrainian commanders.
Commandant Phoenix of the Revenge Brigade's Silver Trinity unit said preparation was "enormous," with men training for months and restructuring their approach to shift from defense to offensive operations. One infantryman, known as Dealer, completed 95 days on the front line and rotated out after moving positions four times. He cited Russian remote-piloted drones as the most frightening threat.
Ukrainian forces recaptured villages including Karpivka, occupied since April 2025. A 61-year-old resident, Volodymyr Zamota, had remained alone for eight months in near-total isolation. He told the BBC he survived "because hope dies last," though the village lay almost completely destroyed. Ukrainian commanders say the recaptured territory is too risky for residents to return to even if homes remain intact.
Andriy Hitt, Revenge Brigade chief of staff, said the operation's real value lay in securing advantageous positions and a bridgehead for future operations.