Ukraine’s surprise robot offensive exposes a vulnerability in Putin’s war machine

CNBC reports that details of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, dubbed "Operation Vivaldi," have started to come to light in recent weeks[1]. According to CNBC, security experts said Ukraine's Third Army Corps had been able to deploy large bomber drones and remote-controlled robots behind enemy lines around Lyman[2] in an operation that began in May. 28 that the third phase of Operation Vivaldi liberated an additional 51 square kilometers, taking the total area of territory retaken to 176 square kilometers[1]. CNBC reports that Biletskyi also said the latest phase of fighting inflicted over 2,000 Russian losses, with over 250 Russian soldiers taken prisoner[1].Patrick Bolder of the Hague Center for Strategic Studies told CNBC the offensive was a "big bloody nose" to Putin's minimal war aim of seizing Ukraine's Donbas region[1].According to CNBC, security experts made it clear that Ukraine's robot offensive should not be seen as a decisive breakthrough.[1] Writing for the Atlantic Council, Henry Jackson Society fellow David Kirichenko said the operation "has succeeded in significantly disrupting Putin's plan to complete the conquest of the Donbas."[3] 30 social media post quoted by CNBC, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: "One particularly promising area now is replacing our warriors with ground robotic systems wherever possible."[1]CNBC reports that a spokesperson for Russia's Embassy in London was not available to comment[1].