Ukraine's Operation Vivaldi: Incremental Tactics and Artillery Break Russian Bridgehead in Donetsk
Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps has successfully executed Operation Vivaldi, reclaiming 176 square kilometers in northern Donetsk Oblast by May 2026. The offensive, which culminated in the elimination of a Russian bridgehead on the Zherebets River, utilized incremental 'small thinking' tactics rather than the massive breakthroughs attempted in 2023. Success relied on heavy artillery support, unmanned ground vehicles for logistics and mine clearance, and strict information discipline. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) concluded that this operation defeated Russia's 2026 campaign to seize Donetsk Oblast, reversing 18 months of Russian advances toward Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
