---
title: "Ukrainian Armed Forces Foil Russian Offensive Plans Against Sloviansk and Kramatorsk"
description: "The Ukrainian Armed Forces thwarted Russian plans to encircle Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. The enemy switched to defense after one of their strike groups was destroyed."
date: 2026-10-24T14:16:31.214Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukrainian-forces-foil-russian-plans-sloviansk-kramatorsk
tags: [ukraine-war, donetsk-region, sloviansk, kramatorsk, military-operations, vsu]
author: "Alexander Buran, Marina Slivenko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Ukrainian Armed Forces Foil Russian Offensive Plans Against Sloviansk and Kramatorsk

![Armed forces of Ukraine conducting combat operations in the eastern combat zone](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/24/vsu-sorvali-plany-rf-slavyansk-kramatorsk/vsu-sorvali-plany-rf-slavyansk-kramatorsk-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Russian plans to encircle Sloviansk and Kramatorsk have been completely thwarted.
- During the 'Vivaldi' operation, one of the enemy's strike groups was eliminated.
- Russian forces in the 3rd Army Corps sector have switched to a defensive posture.
- Mandatory child evacuation zone expanded in the Sloviansk and Kramatorsk communities due to shelling.

Ukrainian military forces have completely thwarted Russian plans to capture Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in the Donetsk region, forcing the enemy to switch to a defensive stance. This was announced by Maksym Zhorin, Deputy Commander of the 3rd Army Corps, while commenting on the current operational and tactical situation along this front sector.

### Details of the Operation and Changing Enemy Plans

According to the Ukrainian officer, Russian units planned to encircle the cities using tactical pincer movements and defeat the defense forces. However, during a successful operation codenamed "Vivaldi," one of the enemy's strike groups was completely eliminated.

Such actions by Ukrainian units made it not only possible to stop the enemy's advance but also to push them back. Currently, Russian forces within the corps' area of responsibility are focused exclusively on holding positions and attempting to stabilize the frontline, having abandoned offensive plans.

### Strategic Importance of the Cities and Evacuation

Previously, the leadership of Ukraine repeatedly emphasized the critical importance of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. In particular, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the loss of these settlements could open a path for the Russian army deeper into the Dnipropetrovsk region, including Pavlohrad and Dnipro.

Against the backdrop of ongoing intense shelling and a difficult security situation in the region, authorities decided to expand the mandatory evacuation zone for families with children. This measure affected all settlements within the Kramatorsk and Sloviansk communities.

### Frontline Consequences

The successful repulse of the offensive in this direction had a significant impact on the morale and psychological state of Russian units. According to the Ukrainian military, this caused a major resonance and confusion in the enemy's information space.

The disruption of the Russian command's large-scale design significantly changed the configuration of forces in eastern Ukraine. Now, the defense forces face the task of securing the achieved lines and further preventing the enemy's attempts to regroup.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [ВСУ сорвали российские планы взять в "клешни" Славянск и Краматорск](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zsu-zirvali-rosiyski-plani-vzyati-kleshni-1792849618.html) - The primary source confirms Maksym Zhorin's statements regarding the disruption of Russian plans to capture Sloviansk and Kramatorsk during the Vivaldi operation.

## FAQ

### Which cities did Russian troops try to encircle?

Russian units planned to encircle Sloviansk and Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region.

### How did the enemy's behavior change in this sector?

Following the defeat of one of their groups during operation 'Vivaldi,' Russian troops abandoned the offensive and switched to defense.

### Why is holding Sloviansk and Kramatorsk critically important?

According to Ukraine's leadership, losing them could open a path for Russian troops into the Dnipropetrovsk region.