Ukrainian counteroffensives north of Lyman in Donetsk Oblast have reversed earlier Russian gains and disrupted Moscow’s efforts to encircle the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk defensive belt from the northeast. Operation Vivaldi, conducted by Ukraine’s Third Army Corps, reclaimed over 277 square kilometers and multiple settlements through late October 2026, forcing Russian redeployments and limiting advances. As of mid-November, Russian forces continue limited offensive operations east and northeast of Lyman without reported territorial progress, while Ukrainian units maintain defensive positions and conduct targeted strikes. The city itself has remained under Ukrainian control despite prior infiltration attempts. Ongoing frontline dynamics, including Russian attempts to regain lost ground and Ukrainian drone and infantry operations, shape trader assessments of near-term capture prospects, with broader Donbas objectives still tied to this sector.