President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited troops at the command post of the 66th Separate Mechanised Brigade named after Prince Mstyslav the Brave on 30 September. The brigade is carrying out missions on the Lyman axis. The President’s press service reported this on Telegram.
Zelenskyy spoke with the brigade commander about the unit’s tasks and needs. The President was accompanied by Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara, and Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa.
“Within Operation ‘Vivaldi’, the 66th Separate Mechanised Brigade, together with other units as part of the Third Army Corps, has already returned more than 125 square kilometres of our territory to Ukrainian control. Thank you for defending our state, sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is very important,” the statement said.
In addition, the President held a co-ordination meeting with commanders of corps, brigades and battalions.
“There were briefings on decisions regarding defence procurement, primarily pick-up trucks, at brigade level. We also discussed strengthening the SBS, increasing funding for drones, simplifying procurement, expanding staffing, and replenishing and training personnel. There is a need for long-range artillery. We agreed this issue with the military. We also agreed that commanders will prepare proposals on pay for soldiers serving on the front line,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
They also spoke with corps commanders about the situation on the front in the east and south of the country, the development of drone and anti-drone technologies, and new ways of waging war. They also discussed the return of servicemen from unauthorised absence, the recruitment of foreigners, and logistics.
Operation ‘Vivaldi’
In September, the commander of the Third Army Corps, Andrii Biletskyi, reported that an offensive operation was under way in the north of Donetsk Region. The operation was named ‘Vivaldi’. During its first stage, defenders liberated 10 square kilometres and cleared a further 75 sq km of the enemy.
As of 28 September, the Third Army Corps had liberated and cleared 176 sq km. Preparations and the start of the operation were kept under strict secrecy. The offensive continues.