Ukraine has clawed back territory in the Donbas region, thwarting Russian efforts to encircle Ukrainian-held cities. A monthslong counteroffensive, dubbed Operation Vivaldi, has forced Russia to lose dozens of square miles in the northern Donbas, according to Western analysts. While Russia continues fierce assaults in the south, Kyiv has reorganized its defenses and prevented further advances.
Russian territorial gains across Ukraine have slowed significantly in 2026, with September marking the worst month for net gains since June 2023, per the Black Bird Group. Researchers agree Russia has gained only slightly more land than it has lost this year, contradicting Moscow’s claim of over 2,000 square miles captured. Ultranationalist Russian military bloggers have also expressed concern over the faltering push to surround Donbas “fortress cities.” The Ukrainian success stems from extensive preparations, including targeting Russian logistics, destroying an oil pipeline, and eliminating elite drone pilots via signals intelligence.
Operation Vivaldi, named after Vivaldi’s four seasons, reflects phased efforts to stabilize defenses before advancing. Despite the gains, Ukraine reclaimed only a small fraction of lost land after months of work. Putin insists full Donbas control is nonnegotiable for peace, rejecting Ukraine’s refusal to cede territory.
In response, Moscow has escalated missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, which Ukrainian officials label a terror campaign to break national will.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing