Ukraine claims capture of 250 Russians in Donbas
Ukraine’s military leadership reports a major capture during Operation Vivaldi, but independent confirmation is lacking.
Ukraine says that more than 250 Russian servicemen were taken prisoner during a new phase of the Vivaldi offensive. The report comes from the commander of Ukraine’s Third Army Corps and has not yet been independently confirmed.
Ukrainian Brigadier General Andrij Biletsky reports that Russian troops lost around 2,000 personnel during the third phase of Operation Vivaldi and that more than 250 servicemen were captured. The operation is taking place in the northern Donetsk region, around the strategically important city of Lyman.
The claim was published by Ukrainska Pravda, which based it on a statement by the Third Army Corps. According to Biletsky, Russian servicemen were captured in complete units, together with officers, pilots and artillerymen. Ukraine’s military leadership also says that several villages have come back under Ukrainian control.
Operation Vivaldi was already made public by Ukraine earlier this month. The Institute for the Study of War described the action as a Ukrainian counter-offensive against a Russian salient north of Lyman. The American research institute then took Ukrainian reports of territorial gains and the expulsion of Russian infiltrators as its main point of reference.
The precise extent of the new territorial gains and the number of prisoners of war have not been independently established. Footage distributed by Ukrainian units may show that Russian servicemen have been captured, but does not in itself prove that the number exceeds 250. No Russian confirmation of the figures was found in the public sources consulted.
The report fits a pattern in which both sides at the front mainly highlight their own successes and report the opponent’s losses. That does not automatically make the claim untrue, but it does make it dependent on further verification by independent observers, geolocation of footage and later information about the front line.
The operation may be militarily significant because Lyman provides access to routes towards other parts of the Donbas. Even so, the capture of prisoners does not automatically mean that the Russian front is collapsing. Its significance depends on whether Ukraine can hold the positions it has taken and whether Russia can bring in reinforcements.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Ukraine says that more than 250 Russian servicemen were captured during Operation Vivaldi.
- The Third Army Corps is carrying out the operation in the northern Donetsk region.
- The figures have not been independently confirmed.
Left
Arguments Emphasises that military pressure on Russia must continue to give Ukraine room to negotiate and protection against further attacks.
Values International law, protection of an attacked population and responsibility for acts of war.
Consequences Warns that restraint could give Russia time to rearm, but also fears further escalation and human suffering.
Centre
Arguments Wants to support Ukraine, but to scrutinise claims from the war zone rigorously and not confuse military successes with a decisive breakthrough.
Values Reliability among allies, proportionality and institutional verification.
Consequences Emphasises that support must remain sustainable and be linked to diplomatic and humanitarian channels.
Right
Arguments Emphasises deterrence, military strength and the importance of a Russian defeat to restore European security.
Values National security, order and credible power.
Consequences Fears that doubt or delay will increase the cost of the war, but wants to prevent European countries from committing unlimited resources without a clear objective.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The text consistently attributes the military claims to Ukrainian sources and makes clear what has not been independently confirmed. The context on Operation Vivaldi and Lyman can be found in independent conflict analyses.
- confirmed Ukraine claims that more than 250 Russian servicemen have been captured. — Reported by Ukrainska Pravda on the basis of the commander of the Third Army Corps; independent verification is lacking. source
- confirmed Operation Vivaldi is being carried out by Ukraine’s Third Army Corps in the vicinity of Lyman. — Described by the Third Army Corps and the Institute for the Study of War. source
- confirmed The precise extent of Ukraine’s territorial gains and Russian losses has not been independently established. — The sources consulted report Ukrainian statements and provide no independent count. source
- confirmed Lyman lies along routes that are militarily significant for the Donbas. — The location and operational significance of the area are discussed in ISW’s analysis. source
Editor's note
It is certain that Ukraine’s Third Army Corps is carrying out Operation Vivaldi and claiming the capture. The exact number of prisoners of war, the losses cited and the full extent of the territorial gains have not been independently confirmed.Sources
- Operation Vivaldi: Ukraine attacks Russian troops with kamikaze armoured vehicles and capture over 250 soldiers — Ukrainska Pravda
- Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 15, 2026 — Institute for the Study of War
- Operation Vivaldi — Third Army Corps of Ukraine
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „oekraïne rusland”
- NOS — „oekraïne rusland”
- Het Parool — „oekraïne rusland”