Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has highlighted three major military operations carried out by Ukrainian forces in 2026, two of which have liberated more than 1,000 square kilometres of territory. Ukraine’s positions on the battlefield are now stronger than they have been for a long time during the war.
Zelenskyy made the remarks in his evening video address on October 27.
The president identified the first major operation as one carried out by Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces, which liberated more than 800 square kilometres of territory.
The second was Operation Vivaldi in the Donetsk region, conducted in areas where Russian forces had ambitious offensive plans and launched numerous assaults.
“The guys liberated more than 200 kilometres,” Zelenskyy said.
The third major operation, according to the president, is Operation Veles, being conducted by the Ukrainian National Guard’s 2nd Khartiia Corps in the Kupiansk sector.
The operation is strengthening Ukrainian positions and demonstrating to Russian commanders that their forces are failing to achieve the objectives set by Russia’s political leadership.
Zelenskyy thanked Ukrainian troops for carrying out the operations.
He also stressed that Ukraine’s battlefield positions in 2026 are the strongest they have been for a long time during the war.
“If our partners’ support for Ukraine remained just as strong — particularly when it comes to our Patriots and other air defence systems — Ukraine would be in a completely different position diplomatically, a much stronger one,” the president concluded.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Photo: Office of the President
