Ukraine captures 250 Russian troops and reclaims 68 square miles using 'zombie car' offensive for the first time
From the Newshound archive · first published 29 September 2026.
Ukrainian forces have seized 250 Russian prisoners of war — one of the highest totals ever recorded in a single operation — and retaken 68 square miles of territory north of Lyman by deploying unmanned 'zombie cars' packed with explosives against Russia's most heavily fortified positions. Operation Vivaldi's third phase saw the 3rd Army Corps convert Soviet-era BTR-60 armoured vehicles into remotely piloted bombs, inflicting 3,000 Russian casualties in total.
Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky tricked Russia into burning reserves defending the wrong village before striking and capturing Nove.
Captured prisoners included drone pilots, artillerymen and officers, as entire Russian units were forced to surrender under the assault.
Putin vowed 'victory' even as the losses mounted, and ordered a fresh mobilisation of thousands more troops days after insisting Russia was not preparing for war.