Operation Vivaldi

For years now, the war in Ukraine has been fought on a largely static battlefield—characterized by attrition, with little opportunity for maneuver, and with only incremental changes to the front lines. But recently, seemingly out of nowhere, Ukrainian forces began recapturing territory held by occupying Russian forces. The gains steadily accrued until, in mid-September, Ukrainian officials for the first time confirmed the ongoing Operation Vivaldi. But although the operation's name was only publicly mentioned in September, the foundations of the operation’s achievements extend back months, and even years. On this episode, retired Australian Army Major General Mick Ryan shares his insights on how Ukrainian forces have accomplished what eluded them for much of the war and examines what the operation might tell us about the war’s future trajectory.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

Chapters

• (00:00:04) - Introduction and Operation Vivaldi overview
• (00:03:37) - Origins of Vivaldi: Kursk, Starlink, and Corps reform
• (00:06:43) - Leadership and command excellence in Ukrainian units
• (00:07:41) - Combined arms structure of Ukrainian brigades
• (00:10:22) - Drones, autonomy, and the enduring human role in war
• (00:13:25) - Tanks and armor's evolving role in Vivaldi
• (00:16:59) - Breaking deep defensive lines and historical parallels
• (00:19:57) - Why Russia hasn't replicated Ukraine's success
• (00:22:05) - Countering Rubicon and drone saturation operations
• (00:23:21) - The four phases of Operation Vivaldi
• (00:26:51) - Vivaldi as the best operational campaign design since 2022
• (00:28:10) - Will Ukraine's methods spread, and will Russia fast-follow?
• (00:29:35) - Is maneuver warfare dead or just resting?
• (00:34:07) - Can Ukraine win outright on the battlefield?
• (00:37:05) - Rewriting the War for Ukraine book today
• (00:40:46) - Continuities and transformations in war's character
• (00:42:19) - What to watch next and closing thoughts