Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi, conducted by the Third Army Corps north and northeast of Lyman through September and October 2026, has reclaimed roughly 277 square kilometers and 16 settlements, cutting off a Russian salient and forcing Moscow’s forces back toward the Zherebets River. Independent assessments from the Institute for the Study of War confirm Ukrainian counterattacks halted Russian advances toward Lyman itself, undermining plans to envelop the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk defensive belt. As of early November 2026, Russian units continue daily assaults in the sector but record no confirmed territorial gains, while Ukrainian forces maintain pressure through localized counterattacks and defensive actions. The fighting remains part of Russia’s broader Donetsk campaign, with Lyman serving as a logistical hub whose capture would support further pressure on Ukrainian positions east of the Siverskyi Donets. Ongoing Russian redeployments from adjacent sectors and Ukrainian logistics strikes continue to shape the local balance.