One Kyiv drone maker turned down a Western government's order for 1,500 interceptor drones this year. Capacity to deliver in weeks, but only state arms-trade companies could legally export. The new framework breaks that bottleneck. – More for Defense News: www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

\"An autonomous solution is a tool designed to lift a human's burden\" — Yevhenii Lesin, deputy commander of Ukraine's 412th Brigade \"Nemesis,\" laid out the doctrinal logic behind Ukraine's push to roboticize its front lines at the Lviv Drone Autonomy Conference last month.

Ukraine's defense production has grown 35x since 2022, from $1B to $35B. Domestic contracts cover only a third. Western contracts are the only capital big enough to fund the scale Ukraine needs. – Read it in my latest for Defense News: www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

Kyiv is moving to legalize weapons sales abroad for the first time since the 2022 export ban. Four bilateral contracts signed, ~20 more in the pipeline, plus a State Dept memo to route Ukrainian drones into U.S. joint ventures. – My latest for Defense News: www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

Zelenskyy announced 50,000 Ukrainian ground robots this year — a force bigger than some allied armies — after UGVs logged 9,000+ frontline missions in March alone and the General Staff credited them with a 30% cut in casualties. Fedorov's goal: 100% of frontline logistics by robots.

The EU opened a call for founding members of the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance — a joint UAV and counter-drone ecosystem backed by €6 billion, applications open until May 25. Founders from EU and Ukrainian defense drone companies will form the alliance's first board. Via @militarnyi.bsky.social.

\"Grandma, get on\" — three words painted on an ammo-hauling robot before Ukraine used it to pull a 77-year-old out of the Lyman grey zone, after Russian drones made conventional extraction impossible. My piece on Ukraine's UGV doctrine, Defense News.

General Cherry's Ukrainian-built interceptors logged 11,473 confirmed kills in March at $1K–$3K a unit. Merops costs $15K. The Pentagon's floor is Ukraine's ceiling — and every NATO budget priced above it is obsolete on arrival.

Ukraine told allies: you can't just buy our drones. You need the operators, the warheads, the full logistics chain. "They asked me whether we could send more operators," Zelenskyy said. "I said no." The Iran war is forcing this lesson on a lot of countries very fast.

"If you're going to provide 25,000 troops, you actually need 75,000." — Ed Arnold, RUSI, on the force-generation math behind Ukraine peacekeeping. Only one-third of forces is frontline-ready at any time. Europe's current pledges don't account for that.

The US burned through 800+ Patriot missiles in the Middle East in three days. Ukraine has received fewer than that in the entire war. The production line makes roughly 600 a year. Then Washington suspended Patriot export sales globally.

Foreign Policy on how Ukraine turned to ground robots under Russian drone pressure — and what it means for the future of land warfare.

Ukraine will contract 25,000 unmanned ground vehicles in H1 2026. Double last year. Fedorov's goal: 100% of frontline logistics performed by robotic systems. Last summer, a Russian unit surrendered to a cardboard sign — because there were no Ukrainian soldiers to surrender to. Only drones.

RAND on Ukraine's robot capture of a Russian position: what it means, what it doesn't. Good sober analysis on where autonomous warfare actually stands.

The same president who threatened to destroy Iranian civilian infrastructure on Tuesday is supposed to guarantee that no one destroys Ukrainian civilian infrastructure ever again. That's not a rhetorical point. That's the actual diplomatic situation Ukraine is in.

Ukraine produces ~1,000 interceptor drones a day. Has the capacity to double it. Doesn't have the budget. But the real bottleneck isn't money or hardware. It's the infrastructure to sustain production at scale — and most countries trying to buy in don't have it.

'Robots don't bleed': Ukraine is sending machines where soldiers used to go. CNN's latest from the front is worth your time.

Europe's Coalition of the Willing has pledged roughly 10,000 troops to monitor a Ukraine peace deal. NATO sent 60,000 to Bosnia in the 90s for 1,000km of ceasefire line. Ukraine has 1,200km of active front. The math doesn't work.

After four years of Russia’s full scale invasion, Ukraine’s tech savvy fighters have transformed their war machine into a machine war. My latest from Kyiv for @militarytimes.bsky.social and @defensenews.bsky.social: www.militarytimes.com/global/europ...

‘We don’t have infantry’: Ukraine’s war machine evolves into machine war

Outmanned by a nuclear power in the largest land war in Europe since 1945, Ukraine’s front line is increasingly held by machines.

militarytimes.com

“It's just stupid,” a high-ranking European diplomat told me, speaking anonymously about the ongoing 🇺🇦/🇷🇺 negotiations. "They lack all credibility." Check out my latest for @militarytimes.bsky.social on what we can learn from the chaos of US-backed "peace" talks: www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

How a US-led peace plan in Ukraine is reshaping global alliances

The latest on U.S.-led Ukraine peace talks — and how leaks, deadlines and shifting drafts are already reshaping battlefield planning.

defensenews.com

WH Chief of Staff Susie Wiles displays an autographed photo of 🇺🇸Trump and Putin in her office. Russia is the #1 threat to NATO - the alliance headed by the US. ➡️"We are 🇷🇺's next target. And we are already in harm's way," NATO Chief Mark Rutte said this month. Photo: @andersonphoto.bsky.social.

I was in Kyiv on the night of June 16 when Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults of the war, killing dozens. Ukraine continues to burn — and to fight. Here are the stories of Ukraines “untraditional” army: 🔗 rb.gy/iqwni1

The Unexpected Army: Stories of Those Who Fight for Ukraine

Ukraine's army is stretched thin and wide, redrawing the boundaries of who serves and why.

rb.gy

⚡️Ukrainian soldiers are not only defending their country—they are redefining modern warfare. Through the use of drones, decoys, and long-range strikes, Ukraine🇺🇦 is reshaping how wars are fought. Great work by @kyivpost.com & @sassovivente.bsky.social! www.kyivpost.com/videos/56501

SCOOP‼️— Natalia Dmitrieva, the sister of top Kremlin negotiator Kirill Dmitriev, traveled to Ukraine as recently as February 2025 – on an 🇺🇸 American passport, multiple sources have confirmed to me. x.com/sassovivente...

Katie Livingstone on X: "NEW‼️— Natalia Dmitrieva, the sister of top Kremlin negotiator Kirill Dmitriev, traveled to Ukraine as recently as February 2025 – on an 🇺🇸 American passport, multiple sources have confirmed to me. Border records show that Dmitrieva entered 🇺🇦 Ukraine on Feb. 8 and departed on https://t.co/DwqWbrL5QV" / X

NEW‼️— Natalia Dmitrieva, the sister of top Kremlin negotiator Kirill Dmitriev, traveled to Ukraine as recently as February 2025 – on an 🇺🇸 American passport, multiple sources have confirmed to me. Border records show that Dmitrieva entered 🇺🇦 Ukraine on Feb. 8 and departed on https://t.co/DwqWbrL5QV

x.com

At least 24 civilians killed and over 80 more injured in Sunday morning Russian attack in Ukraine, as churchgoers gathered for Palm Sunday services in Sumy. #WarCrimes This is why Ukrainians roll their eyes when a “ceasefire” or “peace talks” are brought up. GRAPHIC VIDEO (frm President’s Office)

Scoop‼️— Multiple sources have confirmed to me that Marianna Budanova, wife of 🇺🇦 Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, was quietly flown to the 🇺🇸 US for advanced treatment in Dec. 2024 — over a year and a half after a suspected Russian poisoning. More: x.com/sassovivente...

Katie Livingstone on X: "NEW‼️— Multiple sources have confirmed to me that Marianna Budanova, wife of 🇺🇦 Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, was quietly flown to the 🇺🇸 US for advanced treatment in Dec. 2024 — over a year and a half after a suspected Russian poisoning that targeted her and other top" / X

NEW‼️— Multiple sources have confirmed to me that Marianna Budanova, wife of 🇺🇦 Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, was quietly flown to the 🇺🇸 US for advanced treatment in Dec. 2024 — over a year and a half after a suspected Russian poisoning that targeted her and other top

x.com

“I am never going to vote again.” Some American 🇺🇸veterans in Ukraine say betrayal from Trump's Washington hurts more than battle wounds. My latest for Military.com: www.military.com/daily-news/2...

American Veterans Fighting in Ukraine Struggle with the Politics of Abandonment

Hundreds of Americans have fought in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began. At least 50 have been killed, 40 of whom were former U.S. service members.

military.com

NEW‼️ White House FULL readout of today’s #Trump-#Zelensky call — Ukraine asked for more patriots missiles and again for a ceasefire on civilian infrastructure. Trump said that 🇺🇦 nuclear power plants are best run under 🇺🇸 ownership… Next steps to be decided in Saudi Arabia.

Indeed: Most Americans (51%) disapprove 👎 of #Trump — although he's still got the highest approval rating of his presidency (47%), according to a new NBC poll. Voters have soured on his takes on the economy, ending the war in #Ukraine, & most other measures. 🤷‍♀️ www.kyivpost.com/post/49075

‼️ EPA chief said today the agency’s mission is to “lower the cost of buying a car, heating a home and running a business.” He rolled back several environmental protections today. 💨 www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/c...

E.P.A. Declares ‘Greatest Day of Deregulation Our Nation Has Seen’

Lee Zeldin, the E.P.A. administrator, said he would revise or repeal dozens of air, water and climate protections to help industries.

nytimes.com