Ukrainian special forces retake Andriivka-Klevtsove: 30 Russian troops surrende, footage
Photo: Ukrainian special forces carried out an operation in the Oleksandrivka sector (mil gov ua)
Ukrainian special forces (SSO) carried out an operation in the Oleksandrivka sector, liberated Andriivka-Klevtsove, and captured 30 Russian soldiers.
Russian forces had spent a long time trying to seize the settlement in small groups. The troops gradually moved deeper into the village and established positions there.
How the SSO liberated the settlement
Operators of the 3rd Special Operations Regiment, working alongside one of the SSO's psychological operations centers, carried out a coordinated operation to liberate Andriivka-Klevtsove.
The released footage shows the ground phase of the operation. Ukrainian special forces move through the settlement, push Russian troops from their positions, and gradually restore control over the area.
As a result, 30 Russian servicemen surrendered. Those who continued to resist were killed.
Andriivka-Klevtsove is now back under Ukrainian control.
Traditional ritual held after liberation
After the operation was completed, Ukrainian special forces performed the local "Driving Out the Vipers" ritual in the settlement.
The traditional male-only ritual is included in Ukraine's National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Its purpose is to cleanse a home of evil spirits, misfortune and other troubles, which are collectively referred to in local folklore as "vipers."
This time, the ritual took on a symbolic meaning, as the special forces "cleansed" the liberated settlement of real "vipers" — Russian occupying troops.
In 2026, Ukraine's Armed Forces have been conducting active offensive operations in the Oleksandrivka sector. Since the beginning of the year, Ukrainian troops have liberated 26 settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Overall, Ukraine has regained control of about 745 square kilometers of territory.
Meanwhile, DeepState has updated its battlefield map of the Oleksandrivka sector to reflect the latest advances by Ukraine's Defense Forces.
