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Operation Vivaldi Sent Ukrainian Armor Deep Behind Russian Lines—Straight at Drone Operators
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Ukrainian troops carried out two successful mechanized assaults behind Russian lines during Operation Vivaldi, using armored vehicles to punch through the front and deliver infantry directly into areas occupied by Russian drone operators, Ukraine’s Third Army Corps commander Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi said during an October 20 review of the operation, according to Militarnyi.
In one of the raids, four armored vehicles crossed the line of contact and carried infantry to positions near Russian UAV crews. The troops dismounted and continued the fight on foot.
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Russian forces hit one of the four vehicles, but it remained mobile and was able to leave the battlefield under its own power.
Biletskyi said operations of this kind now require extensive preparation. Crews and infantry were trained specifically for the assaults, the vehicles received additional equipment, and their advance was supported by a large number of other battlefield assets.
“Today, using armored vehicles is effectively a special operation in itself. It requires extremely detailed planning and synchronization of a huge number of assets,” Biletskyi said.
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Before one of the assaults, commanders at both corps and brigade level even conducted a wargame to test the plan. Biletskyi said he remained skeptical almost until the operation began, but ultimately decided not to block the brigade command’s initiative.
The first mechanized assault helped Ukrainian forces partially envelop the settlement of Nove. During the second, armored vehicles drove approximately 4.5 kilometers, or 2.8 miles, beyond the line of contact before dropping infantry in the Russian rear.
The Ukrainian troops then attacked wooded areas used by Russian UAV operators. According to Biletskyi, losing those positions deprived Russian forces of part of their reconnaissance and FPV-drone capability, making it easier for Ukrainian units to continue advancing.
The infantry inserted behind Russian lines remained there for several days, effectively operating while surrounded and continuing to destroy positions used by Russian drone crews.
Biletskyi linked the raid to the later collapse of a significant section of Russia’s defensive line, suggesting that the operation’s impact went well beyond the immediate destruction of individual UAV teams.
Earlier reports indicated that Russia’s 144th Motor Rifle Division has effectively ceased operating as an organized military force following Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi.
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-65758021c165ae94f84d79df9242da4b.jpeg "Fire at Russia’s Nikolskoye oil pumping station following a reported Ukrainian drone strike on October 20, 2026. (Source: Exilenova+)")
