# Ukraine Foils Russia's Donbas Encirclement

> Ukraine's Operation Vivaldi disrupts Russia's plan to encircle Donbas territory.
- Title: Ukraine Foils Russia's Donbas Encirclement · euronews
- Summary: Ukraine's Operation Vivaldi disrupts Russia's plan to encircle Donbas territory. Ukraine's counter-offensive halted Russia's encirclement of Donbas by…
- Keywords: ukraine, russia, donbas, operation vivaldi, isw, lyman, sloviansk, fortress belt, square kilometres, russian military, news, world
- Source: euronews — https://euronews.com/2026/10/09/ukraines-operation-vivaldi-foils-russias-plan-to-encircle-the-donbas-isw-analysis-shows
- Author: Serguei Doubine
- Published: 2026-10-09T17:04:36+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ukraine, russia, donbas, operation vivaldi, isw, lyman, sloviansk, fortress belt, square kilometres, russian military, news, world
## Ukraine's Counter-Offensive
Ukraine's Operation Vivaldi dismantled Russia's northern pincer movement targeting the Donbas fortress belt.
## Territory Gained
Ukraine liberated 176 square kilometres of territory during Operation Vivaldi's first three phases.
## Zelenskyy's Figure
President Zelenskyy reported Ukraine gained between 125 and 140 square kilometres by 3 October.
## ISW Analysis
ISW found Ukraine's counter-offensive may have been more successful than official figures indicate.
## Russian Retreat
Russia retreated 175.18 square kilometres in September, including areas temporarily penetrated but not held.
## Putin's Claim
Putin claimed Russia occupied 89% of Donetsk region, but ISW says no more than 81%.
## Key takeaway

Ukraine's counter-offensive halted Russia's encirclement of Donbas by destroying key northern positions.