Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi recaptures five villages as Kyiv pitches 2026 air and artillery plan to allies
Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps says it has restored control over five settlements during the third phase of Operation Vivaldi, while defence officials brief around 100 NATO and Gulf generals on plans that prioritise air defence, drones and long‑range artillery and seek faster decisions and joint production.
Ukrainian forces are trying to turn progress on the front line into momentum for longer‑term rearmament.
Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps confirmed that its troops and attached units have restored control over five settlements during the third phase of Operation Vivaldi. The villages named are Nove, Ridkodub, Katerynivka, Karpivka and Novomykhailivka. According to the corps, Ukrainian flags have been raised in each, indicating that the aim is to hold and consolidate these gains rather than conduct brief raids.
These are small settlements, not regional capitals, but their recapture can still matter. Each position affects how artillery is sited, how supply routes run, and how Russian units have to shape their own defensive lines. For the soldiers involved, they represent ground that had to be cleared, secured and then prepared to withstand counter‑attacks.
The announcement coincided with a high‑level planning meeting in Ukraine. At the Operational Force Development Framework conference, Ukrainian officials presented their defence priorities for 2026 to around 100 generals from NATO member states and Gulf countries. Deputy Defence Minister Serhii Boiev outlined three main needs: stronger air defence, an expanded drone fleet and more long‑range artillery. He also stressed the need for faster political decisions in partner capitals and quicker delivery of weapons, arguing that delays directly affect units and cities under attack.
Boiev used the gathering to promote investment and joint production with partners in unmanned systems, ammunition and potentially air‑defence components. Kyiv wants to move from relying mainly on foreign stockpiles to building more of what it needs at home with outside backing, tying its security relationships to industrial projects as well as military aid packages.
Operation Vivaldi’s progress gives Ukrainian officials a concrete backdrop for those conversations. Gains in places like Nove or Novomykhailivka show visiting commanders that when Ukraine has the right combination of firepower, drones and engineering support, it can still punch through Russian positions. That matters in Western capitals where talk of stalemate can sap support for new aid.
The priorities Ukraine is setting reflect how the war has evolved. Air defence has to cope with Russian missiles and drones targeting cities and infrastructure. Drones are central to reconnaissance and attacks, including first‑person‑view systems flown against armoured vehicles and fortified positions. Long‑range artillery is needed to hit ammunition depots, headquarters and other targets that sit beyond the reach of front‑line units.
Observers will be watching whether Ukraine can hold the five retaken settlements against Russian attempts to reverse the gains, and whether later stages of Operation Vivaldi push deeper into occupied territory. On the political and industrial side, key signs will be announcements of concrete co‑production deals, any shortening of delivery timelines for promised weapons, and whether upcoming aid packages from NATO and Gulf partners align with Kyiv’s focus on air defence, drones and long‑range artillery.
Sources
- OSINT