WW3 Map Updates Show Ukrainian Forces Thwart Russian Operation Vivaldi in Donetsk
Ukrainian forces have thwarted Russia's Operation Vivaldi, an ambitious plan to outflank Donetsk Oblast via Dobropillia and Barvinkove, resulting in the effective destruction of Russia's 144th Division of the 20th Army, according to the latest ww3 map updates.
Defeat of Operation Vivaldi
Ukrainian forces have thwarted Russian attempts to outflank Donetsk Oblast via Dobropillia and Barvinkove as part of Operation Vivaldi. [3] Russian forces have now abandoned these plans after Ukrainian forces destroyed the bridgehead on the Chornyi Zherebets River and the offensive grouping. [3] The task set before Russia's West grouping of forces, which comprises three armies – the 1st Tank Army, the 20th Combined Arms Army and the 25th Combined Arms Army – was to advance towards the city of Sviatohirsk and the settlement of Rubtsi via a bridgehead it had established on the Chornyi Zherebets River and a salient that Ukrainian forces have destroyed. [3] The aim was to split the Ukrainian grouping on the eastern bank of the Oskil River in two, destroy it and then continue advancing towards Barvinkove, a settlement in southern Kharkiv Oblast. [3] This was Russia's strategic plan involving one thrust via Sviatohirsk and the salient, bypassing Lyman and encircling the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration from the north, with a second thrust via Dobropillia towards the same Barvinkove to complete the encirclement of Donetsk Oblast. [3]
Destruction of Russian 144th Division
Pope Francis urges Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to pursue cooperation with Russia. — Source: newsmax The 144th Division of Russia's 20th Army has been defeated and has effectively ceased to exist as an organised military force. [3] Following the destruction of the bridgehead and the offensive grouping, the 144th Division of the 20th Army has effectively been defeated and has ceased to exist as an organised military force. [3] Russia has abandoned its plan to outflank Donetsk Oblast via Barvinkove after Ukrainian forces destroyed the bridgehead on the Chornyi Zherebets River and the offensive grouping. [3] The territories in red are occupied by Russia as of 19 October. [3] Ukrainska Pravda first reported on Russia's plan to outflank Donetsk Oblast via Dobropillia and Barvinkove in the summer of 2025. [3] The Dobropillia salient was intended to serve as one of two pincers through which Russian forces planned to encircle virtually all of Donetsk Oblast that is under Ukrainian control. [3]
Current Russian Efforts on Donetsk Front ww3 map
Russia's remaining main effort on the Donetsk front is focused on Dobropillia, where Ukrainian forces are conducting active countermeasures and holding a strong defensive line along the Chornyi Zherebets River. [3] Following the defeat of the Russian offensive grouping, Russia has now abandoned its attempt to outflank Donetsk Oblast. [3] According to Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi, Russia has two options remaining on the Donetsk front: either a direct assault on Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, which would be costly and bloody and would not guarantee success, or an alternative approach that Russian forces have also temporarily abandoned. [3] In effect, the Russians now have only one main direction of effort: Dobropillia. [3] They had made some gains there and have therefore not abandoned its attempt to encircle Ukrainian positions from that direction. [3] However, Ukraine's senior military command is now actively conducting countermeasures in the area. [3] The 3rd Army Corps has reached the Chornyi Zherebets River, significantly shortening the front line and allowing infantry positions to be consolidated. [3] Ukrainian defence forces are now holding a highly advantageous defensive line along the river, which Russian troops would have to cross again if they resumed their offensive in this direction. [3] The operation is also significant because it thwarted Russia's strategic objectives for 2026. [3]
Naming and Planning of Ukrainian Counteroffensive
Andrii Biletskyi, Commander of the 3rd Army Corps, has said that the offensive operation near Lyman was named Vivaldi because it was initially planned to have four stages. [4] The idea came from two officers in the corps, one of whom was killed and the other seriously wounded. [4] The name Vivaldi was proposed by assault soldiers Yuryst and Lieshyi. [4] Biletskyi said the name Vivaldi was proposed by assault soldiers Yuryst and Lieshyi because the original plan had four stages – one for each season. [4] The plan was later changed, and the number of stages increased to more than four. [4] They were the ones who suggested the name, knowing about the fondness for classical music that usually plays in the corridors of the 3rd Corps headquarters. [4] Lieshyi sustained seven wounds during assault operations and then moved to headquarters because he had an exceptionally brilliant mind. [4] Yuryst is from Mariupol, joined the 3rd Assault Brigade at a very young age, served as an assault trooper and also went on to develop his skills in this field, though he is now seriously wounded and has been in hospital for a long time. [4] On 15 September, the 3rd Army Corps reported mopping up 75 sq km and liberating a further 10 sq km as part of counteroffensive operations in the northern part of Donetsk Oblast. [4] On 20 September, it became known 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 the Vivaldi offensive operation. [4] On 28 September, Biletskyi reported that Russian forces lost 2,000 personnel during the third stage of the Vivaldi military operation, with more than 250 Russian soldiers taken prisoner. [4]
Ukrainian forces destroy Russian bridgehead on Chornyi Zherebets River halting Operation Vivaldi in Donetsk Oblast. — Source: ukrainskapravda
F-16 Strain from Drone Interceptions
Ukraine's F-16 fighter jets are being used extensively to shoot down Russian jet-powered drones but are flying so frequently that they risk mechanical breakdown. [1] Ukraine is using American-made F-16 fighter jets to shoot down Russia's jet-powered drones, but the aircraft are flying so frequently that they risk breaking down. [1] The heavy operational tempo places significant strain on the aircraft as they conduct repeated interception missions against the jet-powered drones. [1]
Civilian Impact and Humanitarian Concerns
Weekend attacks across Ukraine killed at least 29 civilians and injured more than 230, including 11 children, while damaging homes, hospitals, schools, energy infrastructure and a Ukrainian Red Cross facility in Kherson. [5] Pope Leo XIV urged President Zelenskyy to cooperate with Russia to allow humanitarian aid into Oleshky and enable safe civilian evacuations. [2] Pope Leo XIV spoke by phone Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, urging cooperation with Russia to allow humanitarian aid into the embattled city of Oleshky and the safe evacuation of civilians, the Vatican said. [2] Attacks and front-line hostilities in Ukraine caused hundreds of civilian casualties over the weekend – damaging homes, hospitals, schools and energy infrastructure. [5] The front-line regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv and Kherson were among the hardest hit. [5] Authorities also reported strikes on energy facilities in 11 regions, causing power outages in parts of western and central Ukraine. [5] OCHA remains alarmed by the growing impact of attacks on humanitarian operations, including an attack that damaged the premises of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society in Kherson. [5]
What to watch next: Ukrainian countermeasures around Dobropillia and the continued use of F-16s against jet-powered drones remain key developments to monitor as Russia focuses its remaining efforts on that direction.
