We are interested in the following question: when regularity properties of a linear differential operator imply solvability of its transpose in the sense of Gevrey ultradistributions? This question is studied for a class of abstract operators that contains the usual differential operators with real‐analytic coefficients. We obtain a new proof of a global result on compact manifolds (global Gevrey hypoellipticity implying global solvability of the transpose), as well as some results in the non‐compact case by means of the so‐called property of non‐confinement of singularities. We provide applications to Hörmander operators, to operators of constant strength and to locally integrable systems of vector fields. We also analyze a conjecture stated in a recent paper of Malaspina and Nicola, which asserts that, in differential complexes naturally arising from locally integrable structures, local solvability in the sense of ultradistributions implies local solvability in the sense of distributions. We establish the validity of the conjecture when the cotangent structure bundle is spanned by the differential of a single first integral.