Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 29, 2026 - Institute for the Study of War

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) continues attempts to falsely assert control over settlements in the Lyman direction that Ukrainian forces liberated during Operation Vivaldi. The Russian MoD published a series of videos on September 29 purporting to show Russian servicemembers in Ridkodub, Novomykhailivka, and Nove (all north of Lyman) in an attempt to assert Russian control over the settlements.[1] The Russian MoD released the footage one day after the Ukrainian 3rd Army Corps publicized details of the third phase of Operation Vivaldi, which included the liberation of Nove, Ridkodub, and Novomykhailivka.