‘Most powerful force is human potential’: Ukraine's military prioritises new tactics, technologies

François Picard is pleased to welcome Kyrylo Berkal, Deputy Commander of Ukraine's Third Army Corps, He sees Ukraine’s struggle centred on human potential, adaptation and will. While Ukraine is outnumbered, outgunned and sometimes outflanked, their answer is to make human initiative a weapon: giving soldiers and sergeants room to innovate, developing technology from the tactical level upward, and trying to outthink their adversary. Berkal says that Operation Vivaldi embodies that philosophy. 

The deputy commander describes it as a “symphony” of men, women, technology, training and leadership, with human potential at its very centre. On the northern flank of the Donbas battlefield, their objective has been to stabilise the front, disrupt Russian advances and regain the initiative. But for Berkal, this war represents so much more than just military tactics.

Having left civilian life after Russia’s seizure of Crimea in 2014, he understands the conflict as a struggle over whether Ukrainians can preserve their independence, culture, history, heritage and families, and determine their own future. Public reporting says Vivaldi has involved Ukrainian advances and counter-infiltration operations in northern Donetsk; the Third Army Corps subsequently reported 125 km² brought back under Ukrainian control across its first two phases, including 50 km² retaken from Russian occupation.