Zelenskyy visits Lyman command post, cites Vivaldi gains

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited a military command post near Lyman on September 30, where he met with commanders and said Operation Vivaldi had returned territory to Ukrainian control. Ukrainian officials reported different totals for the area regained, and the figures have not been independently verified in the supplied accounts. Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces had recaptured 176 square kilometers since the operation began earlier this year. During the visit, he also credited Ukrainian forces working with other units with returning more than 125 square kilometers in the Lyman sector. The reports describe the figures with different geographic scopes and baselines, so they should not be treated as directly comparable totals. The president said Vivaldi had prevented Russian forces from breaking through defensive lines around Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. He posted video showing himself meeting commanders, viewing maps and presenting awards to service members. The presidential office said the meeting took place at the command post of the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade, and that Zelenskyy discussed military needs with commanders.