The «Atesh» guerrilla movement has claimed that a group of newly elected deputies to the Russian State Duma is allegedly preparing a private appeal to Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, proposing that troops be withdrawn from troubled areas in the Lyman sector. The movement attributes this to significant losses suffered by Russian forces during the Ukrainian operation «Vivaldi». There is no document or independent confirmation of this information.
Briefly about the main points
- «Atesh» reported on a possible private appeal by the newly elected members of the Russian Federation.
- According to the movement, this was due to the losses suffered by Russian forces near Lyman.
- The Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff announced the recapture of 125 km² in two phases of Operation «Vivaldi».
- Shandrygolov and Derylov have been dismissed, and Drobyshev has been placed under supervision.
- The corps commander announced the continuation of the offensive operation.
«Atesh» links a possible appeal to the losses and questions raised with the Russian General Staff
According to the movement, the group may include MPs whose relatives were killed in the war against Ukraine. They reportedly wish to call for a review of Russian military operations in the Lyman area due to heavy casualties.
«Atesh» also claims that the appeal may raise the issue of the actions of the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation Valeria Gerasimova and the reliability of the Russian command’s reports on the situation at the front. The movement did not name the likely authors, and the text of the document has not been made public.
Elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation came to an end on 20 September. Under the Chamber’s rules of procedure, the first sitting of the new parliamentary term is, by default, held on the 30th day after the election, unless the President of Russia convenes it earlier. This explains the transitional status of the newly elected deputies, but does not confirm the existence of the petition.
The second phase of «Vivaldi»: the liberation of two villages and control of Drobyshev
20 September: the commander of the Third Army Corps Andrii Biletskyi reported on the completion of the second phase of the offensive operation in the north of Donetsk Oblast. According to the corps, over the course of the two phases, 125 km² were returned to Ukrainian control, of which 50 km² were de-occupied.
During the second phase, the Defence Forces liberated Shandryholove and Derylove and established full control over Drobyshev. Biletsky estimated the area of territory recaptured during this period at approximately 40 km².
On 15 September, Reuters reported on Biletsky’s statement regarding an offensive near Lyman and noted that it is difficult to independently verify changes to the front line in the context of modern combat operations. The ISW also recorded the corps’ reports on the results of the operation, without presenting them as full verification of every change in control of the terrain.
The military command reports Russian losses and the continuation of the offensive
The Third Army Corps stated that, over the course of the two phases of the operation, Russian forces have lost more than 3,000 soldiers killed in action, the wounded and those taken prisoner. This estimate was provided by the Ukrainian side; there is no independent confirmation of the full figure.
According to the Corps, Ukrainian units are facing forces from the Russian Federation’s 1st Guards Tank Army, 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies. During the offensive, strike and reconnaissance UAVs, electronic warfare systems, artillery and ground-based robotic systems are being deployed; the corps reports strikes on Russian logistics, crossing points, command posts and communications hubs.
Biletsky stated that «Vivaldi» would continue, and that the organisation would publish further results gradually.
