10,660 Russian Troops Killed or Wounded in Ukraine as Forces Advance in Lyman Sector ww3 map

Ukrainian forces reported killing or wounding 10,660 Russian troops over the past week while advancing in the Lyman sector of Donetsk Oblast as part of Operation Vivaldi, alongside separate robot-aided operations that have reclaimed territory and inflicted over 3,000 Russian casualties since spring 2026. The ww3 map places these developments in the context of ongoing fighting across multiple sectors.

Ukrainian Advances and Russian Losses in Donetsk Oblast

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukrainian units eliminated 10,660 Russian military personnel killed or wounded across all active combat sectors in the past week, with video evidence for each loss. [3] The heaviest fighting occurred in the Pokrovsk, Kostiantynivka, and Lyman sectors, with Ukrainian operations also underway in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Sumy oblasts. [4] Operation Vivaldi by the 3rd Army Corps in the Lyman sector liberated additional territory including 40 square kilometers and several villages, following earlier reports of 125 square kilometers reclaimed in a months-long secret robot-aided push that hit 3,000 Russians. [3] Zelensky said the past week's results were achieved as part of Ukraine's Operation Vivaldi in the Lyman sector and another active defense operation involving Ukraine's Air Assault Forces. [3] On Sept. 20, the 3rd Corps said it liberated a further 40 square kilometers of territory in Donetsk Oblast and retook several villages during the ongoing offensive. [3]

Robot-Aided Offensive Operations ww3 map

A Ukrainian army corps says a months-long ground robot campaign in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, kept secret until this month, has killed or wounded more than 3,000 Russian troops and reclaimed 125 square kilometers under Ukrainian control. [2] Operation Vivaldi by the 3rd Army Corps in the Lyman sector liberated additional territory including 40 square kilometers and several villages, following earlier reports of 125 square kilometers reclaimed in a months-long secret robot-aided push that hit 3,000 Russians. [3] On Sept. 15, the 3rd Army Corps reported mopping up 75 square kilometers and liberating a further 10 square kilometers as part of counteroffensive operations in the northern part of Donetsk Oblast. [4] By Sept. 20, it was reported that the 3rd Army Corps had liberated the villages of Shandryholove and Derylove in Donetsk Oblast and established full control over Drobysheve as part of its Vivaldi offensive operation. [4] Ukrainian forces have killed or wounded 10,660 Russian troops over the past week while making gains in the Lyman sector of Donetsk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sept. 27. [3]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reports over 10,000 Russian troops killed or wounded this week in Donetsk Oblast. — Source: kyivindependent

Medical Evacuation with Maul UGVs

Over half of the missions carried out by soldiers from the 1st Separate Medical Battalion using the Ukrainian Maul unmanned ground vehicle have been successful. [1] As of late September 2026, soldiers from the 1st Separate MedBat have carried out hundreds of missions using the Maul, 51.9% of which were successful. [1] On average, during its lifespan, one Maul evacuates 1.92 wounded soldiers. [1] The Maul UGV was first used in combat conditions in January 2025, and by October 2025, the ground robot had carried out its first successful evacuation of a wounded soldier. [1] Unfortunately, in 4.6% of all missions, the UGV was destroyed with the casualty on board. [1] Operations are considered successful when a wounded soldier is transferred to subsequent stages of evacuation. [1] In more than half of incomplete operations, the reason was the vehicle returning without a casualty. [1] The remainder involved the loss of the vehicle prior to loading. [1] Factors affecting mission outcomes include preparation time, situational awareness, coordination with adjacent units, weather conditions and enemy activity in the sector. [1] In the vast majority of missions, time of day was not a decisive factor. [1] To increase mission success rates, the 1st MedBat prioritises operations based on information regarding the circumstances and severity of wounds, as well as logistical threats and capabilities. [1] The technical condition of the UGV is also checked before operations, and more than 10 military personnel are involved in executing each mission. [1] An important component of the mission team is the rapid response group, which we call the lively group – these are service members involved in delivering the Maul to the launch point, inspecting its technical condition and performing maintenance. [1] After a mission is completed, they also retrieve the vehicle, sanitise it and inspect it for damage. [1] The Maul UGV is an ATV-based ground robotic system equipped with a special armoured capsule for transporting a wounded person. [1] It features an internal combustion engine, suspension, an armoured capsule and electronic warfare equipment. [1] The robot's average speed during evacuations is 30-40 km/h, and the maximum distance covered by the Maul during a single mission is 110 km. [1]

Drone Warfare Along the Southern Front

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reports important results from the Lyman front in Donetsk Oblast. — Source: ukrainskapravda

The Norwegian volunteer fighter known as Snow with the 426th Independent Regiment for Unmanned Systems conducts nighttime drone operations along the Dnipro River near Kherson to counter Russian FPV drones targeting civilians, using bomber drones against Russian drone operators and equipment. [5] Snow has fought in Ukraine since 2024 and previously had several years of military experience from Norway. [5] Snow uses an AK-74 as standard weapon but had a shotgun when taking NRK on a mission. [5] Snow plans operations for a team in the 426th Independent Regiment for Unmanned Systems. [5] They fly a drone loaded with bombs under the wings, which are dropped over predetermined targets on the Russian side. [5] If we can find some proper goods, such as air defence, mobile artillery and expensive systems that are difficult to replace, then we go for that. [5] But most often we go against other drone units and everything that can prevent the enemy's drones from flying. [5] Snow has himself experienced how the drones have taken over the battlefield. [5] Snow started in a military unit that conducted fire support in the form of mortars. [5] When their position was attacked by an FPV drone near Kupjansk, Snow managed to lie down before it exploded over the camouflage net. [5] Snow claims there was only one and a half meters between the drone and his back. [5] A few months after rehabilitation in the hospital, Snow decided to continue fighting. [5] Snow sends some short messages from the field where the catapult is mounted to launch the drone to the car with technical equipment. [5] The situation is unclear. [5] War is unclear, explains the Norwegian calmly. [5]

Broader Operational Context

Zelensky added that the heaviest fighting has been taking place in the Pokrovsk, Kostiantynivka, and Lyman sectors, while Ukrainian forces are also carrying out operations in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Sumy oblasts. [3] He did not provide further details on the territorial gains. [3] Zelensky specifically highlighted servicemen of the 3rd Army Corps and the 68th Oleksa Dovbush Separate Airmobile Brigade of the 8th Corps of the Airborne Assault Forces. [4] The president also stated that together with the commander-in-chief, he outlined further active operations for Ukrainian troops, though details were not disclosed. [4] Ukraine's General Staff said on Sept. 15 that Russian forces have lost more than 300,000 troops killed and wounded since the beginning of 2026. [3] After the summer campaign on the battlefield in Ukraine ended, Russian losses exceeded 1.5 million since the start of the full-scale invasion. [3] Russia does not routinely disclose its military losses, and the figures could not be independently verified. [3] Operation Vivaldi, Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps offensive operation around Lyman in northern Donetsk Oblast, was only made public on Sept. 15, although Russian pro-war Telegram channels and independent open-source intelligence researchers on social media had been tracking Ukrainian attacks in the area since late spring 2026. [3]

Additional Medical Battalion Mission Details

The unit explained that operations are considered successful when a wounded soldier is transferred to subsequent stages of evacuation. [1] The 1st Separate Medical Battalion has conducted hundreds of evacuation missions with the Maul UGV since January 2025, achieving a 51.9% success rate that has saved an average of 1.92 soldiers per robot, though 4.6% of missions resulted in the UGV being destroyed with a casualty aboard. [1] Ukrainska Pravda reported that the Come Back Alive Foundation announced the launch of the RoboBro project to purchase ground evacuation robotic systems. [1] The project's goal is to save at least 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers' lives using UGVs. [1] Ukrainian ground robots, including the Maul, will be purchased as part of the project. [1]

What to watch next: Zelensky and the commander-in-chief outlined further active operations for Ukrainian troops, with the 3rd Army Corps continuing its Vivaldi offensive in the Lyman sector and the Air Assault Forces maintaining tasks in multiple oblasts.

Further Reading

• Ukraine War Map