Operation Vivaldi: The Third Army Corps’ Electronic Warfare Unit Thwarted More Than 20,000 Missions by Russian Drones
During the “Vivaldi” offensive operation, the electronic warfare forces of the Third Army Corps created a sort of “protective dome” over the combat zone. According to military officials, the electronic warfare system disrupted more than 20,000 missions by Russian drones.
According to the corps, since the beginning of 2026, Russia has nearly doubled its use of attack drones.
In response, the Third Army Corps combined the capabilities of various electronic warfare units, creating a comprehensive electronic defense system over the area of Operation “Vivaldi.”
Its mission was to ensure the movement of assault groups and protect Ukrainian positions from the massive deployment of Russian UAVs.
Ground-based robotic systems equipped with electronic warfare capabilities were also integrated into the system.
This approach was intended to provide cover for Ukrainian troops as they moved and carried out missions in close proximity to the front lines.
According to assessments by the Third Army Corps, the newly developed electronic warfare system is approximately two years ahead of Russian developments.
The main result of its use within the corps is said to be the disruption of more than 20,000 missions by Russian drones.
Earlier, on September 15, the Third Army Corps announced an offensive operation in the north of Donetsk Oblast.
According to military officials, Ukrainian units cleared approximately 75 square kilometers of territory and reclaimed over 10 square kilometers during the operation.
The corps also reported significant losses among Russian troops during the first phase of the operation. Specifically, they cited over 12,000 drones destroyed and hundreds of pieces of Russian military equipment and artillery systems.
The plan for the operation was for Ukrainian forces not only to drive Russian units out of specific areas but also to disrupt their logistics and weaken their ability to advance further.
This was reported by military officials of the Third Army Corps.
As a reminder, the 1021st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment of the Ukrainian Air Force adapted the “Stugna-P” anti-tank missile system to combat Russian attack drones. The system, originally designed to engage armored vehicles, has already been demonstrated as an air defense weapon.
During the first 15 days of September, the Unmanned Systems Forces confirmed the elimination of 6,280 Russian occupiers. This is 25.6% more than during the same period in August. At the same time, Russia plans to significantly increase the rate at which it replenishes its army’s personnel.
The Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a Russian Su-24 aircraft at its airbase in Saki in the temporarily occupied Crimea. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine noted that the extent of the damage to the aircraft is currently being assessed.
On September 7 and during the night of September 8, 2026, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a number of key military targets belonging to the Russian occupation forces.
In Sevastopol, in occupied Crimea, Ukrainian forces struck a Russian BK-16 high-speed landing craft. A “Krasukha-4” mobile electronic warfare station was also struck in the vicinity of the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol.
On August 31 and during the night of September 1, the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out strikes against a number of military facilities belonging to the Russian occupiers.
On the night of August 26, 2026, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck facilities at the “Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez” LLC oil refinery in the city of Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia.
Ukrainian strikes since July have put seven of Wildberries’ ten largest logistics centers in Russia out of commission, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported. In particular, following the attack on August 16, the company’s large facilities in Domodedovo and the “Koledino” industrial park ceased operations; the latter had an area of approximately 250,000 square meters.
On the night of August 26, drones again attacked the Wildberries logistics center in Kotovsk, Tambov Oblast, Russia, after which a massive fire broke out at the facility. According to Russian authorities, the fire covered at least 40,000 square meters, and one employee was injured.
Ukrainian drones simultaneously attacked a Lukoil oil refinery and a Wildberries warehouse in Russia.
As a reminder, the Orsk oil refinery in the Orenburg region of Russia completely halted operations following an attack by Ukrainian drones.
