During the ongoing Vivaldi offensive in the northern Donetsk region, the 3rd Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces recaptured 40 square kilometers of territory and secured full control of the villages of Shandryholove, Derylove, and Drobysheve, according to an announcement by brigade commander Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi on September 20.
The operation, focused in the Lyman region, was publicly disclosed by Ukraine on September 15, though open-source intelligence researchers had tracked military movements in the area since the spring. The rapid advances have forced Russian troops back toward the Zherebets River, threatening to unravel gains made during more than 18 months of Russian advances in the area.
Tactical Execution and Strategic Significance
The villages of Shandryholove and Derylove were encircled from north to south using specialized mobility tactics designed to bypass heavy defenses. According to operational briefings published by the 3rd Assault Brigade, Ukrainian assault groups moved discreetly through ravines and low-lying terrain to achieve tactical surprise. The units divided into mobile teams that penetrated tree lines and fortified positions while supporting elements secured flanking routes along the line of contact to block potential counterattacks.
General Biletskyi highlighted Shandryholove as a critical logistics and defensive node for both sides. Ukrainian military statements noted that the operation’s northern pincer effectively dismantled Russia’s broader offensive push toward Ukrainian-held territory in northern Donetsk.
Drone Warfare and Electronic Adaptation
The intensity of the frontline fighting prompted shifts in tactical deployments by both militaries, particularly regarding uncrewed aerial systems. On September 18, the 3rd Assault Brigade reported that Russia withdrew units of its elite Rubicon uncrewed combat systems force from the frontline in northern Donetsk.
The Rubicon Advanced Unmanned Technology Center operates as a specialized branch focused on severing supply routes, targeting drone operators on the ground, and intercepting reconnaissance and strike aircraft. The withdrawal of these specialized units mirrors the broader attrition of electronic and aerial warfare assets along the Lyman axis, where both Ukrainian and Russian forces rely heavily on elite drone teams to contest airspace and suppress opposing infantry.
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