Welcome to a weekly roundup of news from the war in Ukraine you probably did not hear about.
All reports are linked to their sources so you can read the original if you’d like to. If you have any questions, detect errors and omissions, or need more detail, just let me know.
Here are some of the things you probably did not hear about for the week covering Sunday 28th June to Saturday 4ht July 2026:
By the way, today is Day 1,592 of Putin’s 3-Day Special Military Operation.
AI SLOP & UNDER-REPORTING
Grow Ukraine’s Airpower Impact By Integrating Manned/Unmanned Aircraft
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Ukraine Wants Robots To Fight Its Ground War
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Many news articles covering this war, particularly in Forbes, are literally getting harder to read. There are plentiful examples of bland reports stuffed full of leaden sentences that often have little meaning. Here’s why. It is AI-generated slop. Slop is online garbage created by an AI. It is then published by outlets that only want to sell advertising, care nothing about accurate reporting, and are delighted AI allows them to fire real reporters who might otherwise dig up something newsworthy and readable.
It is trivially easy to check to see if an article is AI slop or not. Here’s what two highly rated AI detectors said about David.A.Deptula’s story in Forbes last week. The headline was already a dead giveaway: ‘Grow Ukraine’s Airpower Impact By Integrating Manned/Unmanned Aircraft’:
This is the verdict from a second detector:
A second piece, also in Forbes last week (‘Ukraine Wants Robots To Fight Its Ground War’), was written by David Kirichenko. Apparently, he is an AI. Not one sentence is reckoned to be written by a human hand.
Humalingo disagrees, but only slightly.
If only ‘Forbes’ had taken Humalingo’s advice, and fixed all the issues before publication. Sadly, it did not. Note the ‘Readability’ scores of both stories. They are abysmal. Journalists who use AI often defend these pieces by saying it’s only what they would have written anyway and AI saves them time. If this garbage had been written by a human journalist, his or her editor would have sent it back again and again for re-writes until it either became readable or it was spiked for being badly written.
AI slop is a huge problem. It is almost worse than not reporting the invasion of Ukraine at all. It delivers fake insights, bland text, and is, as you can see, often unreadable. It is not reporting. Yet it contaminates news feeds and is the cynical product of managers who do not understand the purpose and value of real journalism.
Sigh… As ever, welcome to The Under Reported War.
FOUR HEADLINES THAT NEVER WERE
(BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN)
UKRAINE BUYS LATEST GRIPEN
If you recall, only five weeks ago (ISSUE 36), Sweden confirmed it was giving Ukraine sixteen Gripen Model C/D jet fighters. It’s now confirmed that Ukraine will buy another sixteen Gripens outright. These will be the very latest Model E Gripen. It is the first time state-of-the-art fighters will be flown by Ukraine’s air force. Previously it partly modernised with upgraded Mig-29s, old Mirage 2000s, and even older F-16s donated by NATO nations.
The Russian air force now faces an opponent the like of which it has never fought before.
Ukraine Secures Deal for 16 Gripen E Fighters
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“Ukraine has secured an agreement with Sweden to purchase 16 Gripen E fighter jets, while the first Gripen C/D aircraft are expected to arrive in early 2027.”
GASOLINE FLOWS TO RUSSIA AS HUMANITARIAN AID
Yes, things are really that bad. Russia is one of the largest producers of crude oil in the world. Its exports of crude and refined petroleum products underpins its economy and pays for Putin’s war. But Ukraine is continuing to destroy Russian oil industry (see ‘REFINERY ROUNDUP’). In addition, India is now selling back to Russia expensive fuel it refined from cheap crude oil Russia sold to it.
Kazakhstan will provide 50,000 tons of gasoline to Russia in July and August as ‘humanitarian aid’
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“As this amounts to only slightly more than 1.6% of Russia’s monthly gasoline consumption, it’s little more than a token effort.”
SOLDIER WHO THREATENED MUTINY JAILED
Alexander Lunin notched up more than two hundred thousand Instagram views last week (See Issue 40) with his warning to Putin that mutiny is imminent unless conditions at the frontline change. He was, of course, arrested immediately. He has been tried and convicted already but the twist in the tale is that it was not for threatening mutiny but for being a neo-Nazi.
Russian soldier who threatened mutiny was jailed not for rebellion threat but being a neo-Nazi
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“39-year-old Alexander Lunin has been jailed for “propagating extremist symbols”. The case was submitted to the court on Saturday 27 June at 10:00, and the hearing took place at 11:30….
[Lunin’s] social media feed shows him displaying neo-Nazi and neo-pagan symbols, including a figurine of the Slavic god Perun with Nazi swastikas on it and a neo-Nazi Sonnenrad symbol.”
HALF OF NORTH KOREANS WHO FOUGHT IN KURSK KILLED OR WOUNDED
Ten per cent casualties is reckoned to destroy a military unit’s ability to function effectively. Fifty per cent is catastrophic. Various estimates put the number of North Koreans fighting for Russia at between thirteen thousand and fifteen thousand. They attacked en masse and died en masse.
Ukraine reveals new figures for North Korean troop losses in Kursk Oblast 2024-25
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“North Korean troops took over 7,000 casualties while fighting alongside Russia to push back Ukrainian forces from Russia’s Kursk Oblast in 2024-2025, the Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) claimed.”
NEWS FROM THE FRONTLINE
OPERATION ASHAN
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Operation Ashan was devised to increase the effectiveness of intense but random bomber drone activity. It coordinated fast bomber drone response with reconnaissance and surveillance to suppress the Russian offensive. So far, i seems to have worked.
Ukraine Drone Strikes Bring Russian Offensive Almost to a Halt in June
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“[Operation Artshan has] coordinated strikes against Russian howitzers in the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Starobilsk operational sectors…
As a result, Ukrainian forces hit 231 targets, 171 of which were destroyed. The effectiveness of the strikes was confirmed through objective monitoring systems and intercepted communications.
According to the military, Russian activity across the entire front line dropped by 30% to 81% within the first day.”
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FAKE VICTORIES OF THE WEEK
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If you cannot take territory, make up a victory instead.
Regular readers know all about Russian commanders’ love of announcing a settlement is captured when it is still held by Ukraine. Often it is to claim a cash bonus. On occasion, it is for propaganda. Their soldiers are forced to pose in the open with flags and they are usually killed immediately or captured. Naturally, the Russian officers are snug in a bunker far behind the frontline when this happens. Here’s a typical example:
Russians Sacrificed Troops for Flag Video in Novoselivka
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“Russian commanders reportedly sent soldiers on a mission that resulted in [their] deaths and capture in the village of Novoselivka so they could quickly display a Russian flag for a drone camera.”
This week, Russia got ambitious. It claimed falsely to have captured two cities.
Don’t Believe Russian Lies. Lyman Still Holds
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“A few flag-raising infiltrators create the impression of Russian advances.”
Russia claims city it doesn’t hold. ISW says announcement was staged for US’s Independence Day
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“Putin claimed Russia captured Kostiantynivka. ISW and Zelenskyy both say it’s cognitive warfare timed for US Independence Day.”
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CLAIMS OF MUTINY AND FUEL CRISIS ON KHARKIV FRONT
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Reports of Russian soldiers refusing en masse to attack
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“Russian soldiers are reported to be refusing en masse to attack across the border west of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region.
Meanwhile, Russian army units are said to have run out of fuel amidst the ongoing fuel crisis.”
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UKRAINE CONTINUES REORGANISATION
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This is another significant step away from the over-centralised Soviet style army that began the war.
Combat Battalions to Receive More Funding; Artillery Units to Receive Separate Funding
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“Ukraine will increase funding for combat battalions, while artillery units will receive separate funding. This means greater predictability for commanders in their management and significantly broader opportunities for units to independently organize personnel training.”
Project Basic Level
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“Ukraine has launched the first phase of the Basic Level project — a guaranteed minimum monthly supply of drones to military units… Currently, the distribution of drones and equipment among brigades remains uneven.
The first phase will include the most in-demand types of drones: FPV (both radio-controlled and fiber-optic), Mavic drones, bombers, reconnaissance drones, and light middle-strike drones.”
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BOTTLE-BRUSH BARRELS
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One of the toughest targets for drones are towed artillery pieces. They are massive and tough chunks of solid metal that are relatively easy to repair. Their most vulnerable spot is their very expensive gun barrel, but they are hard to hit, and the attacking drone needs to be carry a specialised shaped charge warhead. However, with repeated attacks, the gun barrel can be damaged beyond repair.
One Ukrainian artillery unit, the 68th Separate Artillery Brigade, has adapted to this threat by attaching wire bristles to their precious gun barrels.
The Hedgehog Howitzer Is Hard To Drone
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“Metal quills [and a cage] appear on a Ukrainian 2P22 howitzer. Ukrainian forces are up-armoring some of their artillery to further protect the already-sturdy big guns from Russian drones. Add a new species to the taxonomy of the Russia-Ukraine war: the hedgehog howitzer.
It’s goofy-looking. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work“
And, as if to make the point, there was this news last week:
Ukraine Reports Record Russian Artillery Losses in June
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“Russian forces suffered their highest monthly artillery losses since the start of the full-scale invasion, with Ukrainian forces reportedly destroying or disabling more than 2,000 artillery systems in June 2026.
The month also saw record losses in military vehicles and one of the highest losses of air defense systems recorded during the war”
As Russia lost more and more of its newest artillery pieces, it was forced to pull WWII-era artillery out of storage. The older guns are shorter range, and, of course, this brings them closer to the frontline and within range of ever more attack drones. Needless to say, the older the gun barrel, the harder it is to find an uncorroded replacement.
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HMM… IS THIS A GOOD IDEA?
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Just looks like an irresistible target for an interceptor drone to me.
Airbikes and Airbuggies Could Enter Service with Ukrainian Military
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“These airbikes and air-mobile buggies could be designed as optionally unmanned platforms, allowing the aircraft to autonomously return to base after disembarking troops.”
RUSSIA’S ‘INVINCIBLE’ WAR MACHINE
WHY THERE IS TALK OF A REPEAT OF 1917
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In 1917, the demoralised half-starved Russian army was on the brink of collapse. Mutiny was imminent. The February Revolution happened in part because of these factors. Similar conditions now exist in pockets along the 1300km frontline and they are spreading. It has led many people to ask if the vents of 1917 are about to be repeated.
However, there is no sign of the widespread social unrest in 1917. But that’s the thing about the end of dictatorships: repression increases gradually and all seems calm until, suddenly, it is not. Mass mobilisation is likely to happen first. But there is no doubt Ukraine is winning this war of attrition.
Five years into the full-scale war in Ukraine, the Russian army appears to be exhausted and in low morale
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“An account from a serving Russian soldier at the front line highlights the current mood of dejection and frustration with incompetent commanders.”
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ANOTHER SIGN OF RUSSIAN DECAY
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This week, Ukraine’s Army Commander, General Syrskyi, claimed that Russia is drawing on its strategic reserve divisions. If true, it’s a sign of desperation. Strategic reserves are there to be used as a last resort or to exploit a potentially war-winning breakthrough. Clearly the latter has not occurred.
Syrskyi: Russia Reduces Troops in Strategic Reserve Divisions to Replenish Frontline Losses
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“Russia is facing problems with staffing its military, even though it has increased the financial incentive for signing a military contract.
Syrskyi also added that the Russians continue to replenish their forces with former prisoners and are sending personnel from reduced strategic reserve divisions to the front lines.”
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MORE DESPERATION
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Female convict soldiers complain that the Russian military has reneged on their contracts
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“Instead of being pardoned after completing their military service, they say, they will now be sent back to jail.
The women work as medics for an evacuation group, removing the wounded and dead from the battlefield. This is highly dangerous work, carried out under constant threat of drone and artillery attack.
Lyudmila Leonidovna Poltarakova was recruited from a Russian prison along with more than 80 other women. She is part of the 370th Separate Medical Battalion (military unit 57062) of the 2nd Guards Taman Motorized Rifle Division. “
The 2nd Guards Taman Division were once regarded as Russia’s foremost mechanised formation. Stationed in Moscow, it was the unit that could be trusted to crush any uprising. Not any more. After more than four years of fighting in Ukraine, this once elite unit, like the paratroops and naval infantry, is now savagely depleted and reduced to tricking prisoners to sign up.
In March this year, the 2nd Guards attacked near Pokrovsk with fourteen tanks, and twenty-two armoured personnel carriers. They were massacred. All fourteen tanks were lost.
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WAR OF ATTRITION BITES RUSSIA HARD
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Numerous times you’ve heard tales of experienced Russian drone pilots, tank crews, aircraft technicians, sailors etc. being sent into the Storm-Z meat grinder. Now we have some leaked figures that illutrate the true scale of this blunder.
Enormous numbers of casualties have reduced some Russian assault units to as little as 32% of their authorised strength
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“Leaked data shows widespread undermanning, with dozens of UAV specialists reported to have been sent to stormtrooper units to replace casualties.
According to [a leaked] roster, the assault units of the 752nd Regiment should have 2,078 personnel, but in reality, only 1,014 are listed. This represents 48% of the overall authorised strength. Figures for some assault units are as low as a third of their authorised strength.
[Rear echelon] units in the regiment are better staffed, with the battalion and detachment command and control reported to be almost 100% staffed, as is the military police platoon, with its full complement of 15 personnel.”
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MASS MOBILISATION NEWS
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How does recruiting even more people unsuitable for combat help Russia? Its army is already full of crutch battalions.
Russia’s Defense Ministry wants to cancel mandatory medical exams for contract soldiers and mobilized personnel
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“This means Russia could mobilize practically anyone if the law changes get approved.”
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RUSSIA RECRUITS STUDENTS FOR MEAT GRINDER
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The BBC actually did some good reporting. However, they continued to stick with their debunked under-estimate of Russian casualties and undermined their whole story. You can only stick with a faulty claim for so long before you begin to look absurd. That moment was passed a long time ago.
Russia looks to students to make up for mounting losses in Ukraine
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“”He studied drones for three months - and yet they still threw him into a frontal assault, into the meat grinder,” said Valery Averin’s foster mother Oksana Afanayeva.
The 23-year-old is among the first Russian students known to have been killed in Ukraine after signing up as part of a new large-scale drive to recruit young people from universities and colleges into Russia’s drone forces.”
NEWS OF THE MIDDLE STRIKE
Ukraine’s Middle strike drones continued to take out bridges, trucks and tankers (more than two thousand again), air defences, and power substations across Occupied Ukraine. There are so many attacks that I cannot list them all.
Here are a few of the more interesting stories from the Middle Strike zone reported this week:
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KERCH BRIDGE AIR DEFENCES FURTHER REDUCED
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Ukraine is keeping the pressure on the very expensive multi-layered air defence network built to defend Putin’s Kerch Straits bridges.
Ukrainian Forces Strike S-300/S-400 Site and Power Substation in Crimea
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“According to NASA FIRMS satellite monitoring data, a fire was detected at the S-300/S-400 site, with thermal anomalies recorded at 02:20 a.m.
The satellite images confirm the presence there of prepared positions for surface-to-air missile system crews.”
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SEVEN RUSSIAN FIGHTERS AND SHAHED HANGERS CLAIMED DESTROYED
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Hardened Aircraft Shelters At Russian Air Base In Crimea Damaged From Ukrainian Drone Strikes
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““At the ‘Saki’ airfield, seven hangars [and hardened shelters] storing aviation were hit, in which Su-30SM, Su-30, and Su-24 fighter jets and frontline bombers were located,” SBU added. “According to preliminary information, at least seven aircraft were destroyed or damaged.””
Hvardiiske airbase also targeted
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“At the nearby Hvardiiske airbase, the agency said drones struck two hangars used to store Shahed attack drones and aviation equipment.”
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RUSSIA’S UNJAMMABLE MIDDLE STRIKE DRONE APPEARS IN NUMBERS
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Russia has its own highly-effective Middle Strike drones too. The Molniya-2, also known as the Lightning 13, is autonomous which means it does not need to communicate with a pilot. The lack of transmissions makes this drone very hard to detect, track, or jam.
Russia Mass-Deploys AI-Enabled ‘Molniya’ Attack Drones in Zaporizhzhia
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“The Lightning 13 aircraft-type UAV features a new fairing and is equipped with four electric motors; it can reach speeds of up to 120 km/h and has a flight range of up to 50 km. This allows it to carry a payload of up to 13 kg.
Serhii Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian military technology expert and adviser to the defense minister, better known by his call sign “Flash,” said on Friday that the newly upgraded drone model can operate autonomously, marking another step in Russia’s increasing use of AI-enabled battlespace technology.
“Drone detectors no longer save you. Stay alert,” he said.”
UKRAINE’S LONG-RANGE WAR
REFINERY ROUNDUP
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Russia’s Slavyansk-on-Kuban oil refinery was still burning on the second day after the Ukrainian strike. It has refining capacity of 52 million tonnes of crude oil per year. The fire lasted for almost four days.
Ukrainian drones strike Vtorovo Oil Pumping Station for the second time this month, targeting fuel supplies to Moscow.
The Yaroslavl refinery, 700 km from Ukraine’s border was attacked again.
Zelensky confirmed long-range strikes hit the Ufa refinery, one of Russia’s largest oil lubricant producers, more than 1,300 km from the front.
The Kstovo refinery was struck again this week. The refinery is Russia’s fourth-largest. It has an oil refining capacity of 17 million tonnes per year.
The Nizhny Novgorod oil refinery halted operations after a drone attack on July 2, The Moscow Times reports.
Strike drones attacked the oil export terminal in St. Petersburg. The terminal has a capacity of 12.5 million tons per year.
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EVERY MAJOR REFINERY IN EUROPEAN RUSSIA DAMAGED
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Ukrainian Drones Have Struck 8 Out of Top 10 Major Russian Oil Refineries
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“”By the end of May 2026, not a single major refinery in the European part of Russia had escaped a Ukrainian drone attack. Many have been hit multiple times. The strikes have forced plants to cut or halt production, setting off a large-scale fuel crisis across the country”, according to Meduza.
Only two refineries among Russia’s top ten remain untouched so far. These are the Omsk Oil Refinery in the Omsk region, which is the largest refinery in Russia, and the Angarsk Petrochemical Company in the Irkutsk region. Both facilities are located in Siberia.”
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RUSSIA BUYS FUEL FROM INDIA
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The twist is that Russia sold the crude oil to India to be refined into gasoline. India then sold it back at a much higher price.
Russia buys gasoline from India to tackle shortages
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“At least 60,000 metric tons shipped from India, two sources say... Gasoline consumption in Russia is at least 110,000 tons per day in summer, when demand for fuel is high.
India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, received about 2.70 million barrels per day of crude oil from Russia in June, preliminary data from Kpler and LSEG showed.”
It is only half a day’s worth of gasoline. That’s the scale of the problem the Kremlin faces.
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RUSSIAN CRIMINALS ESTABLISH BLACK MARKET FUEL TRADE
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Black market trucks suck pumps dry [video]
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“Fuel resellers are somehow buying fuel in bulk despite sales restrictions and then reselling it privately at huge markups. In this case, from Rostov, one of them drained an entire gas station dry with his homemade fuel truck.
They then advertise the fuel on social media and resell it at massive markups, further worsening an already severe fuel shortage. They even advertise it as an advantage, telling customers they won’t have to spend hours waiting at gas stations.”
As one BTL comment said:
“Fantastic to see Intermediate Bulk Container totes repurposed for gasoline. These standard white plastic totes are not static-dissipative. As gasoline sloshes against the walls during transport, it generates massive friction and static electricity... just waiting for a single static spark. ”
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BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF GIANT QUEUE FOR GAS
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Helicopter view of 4.3km long queue at a gas station
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“Atamanovka, Zabaykalsky Krai. A Russian driver leaves the gas station after finally refueling following a 28-hour wait, then drives past a 4.3 km-long queue for the same station.
Zabaykalsky Krai is in deepest Siberia, beyond Lake Baikal, close to the Mongolian border. The queue can also be seen on satellite.
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UKRAINE TRIES TO BLIND RUSSIA
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Two important satellite communication hubs were attacked in late June.
Attacks on Russia’s space communications complexes appear intended to degrade ability to access satellite imagery and communications
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“Ukraine has so far carried out three attacks on Russia’s space communication centers (SCCs) in the Moscow and Vladimir regions. The Dubna SCC was hit twice, on 22 and 30 June, and the Vladimir SCC in Gus-Khrustalny was hit on 24 June.”
This week, Ukraine attacked a third, again inflicting extensive damage. The Meshcherino-1 center is responsible for processing data from reconnaissance satellites.
Ukrainian Drones Successfully Strike Meshcherino-1 Secret Russian GRU Facility
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“The latest reported target was the 476th Central Information Reception and Processing Center of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of the Russian General Staff, a highly classified installation involved in processing intelligence gathered by Russia’s military reconnaissance satellites.”
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INCREASED TEMPO OF DEFENCE INDUSTRY ATTACKS IN JUNE
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Ukraine struck at least 13 Russian defense industry facilities in June
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“[It was] the highest monthly total of 2026. Targets included plants making missiles, ammunition and electronics in Volgograd, Michurinsk, Cheboksary, Ryazan region, Novomoskovsk and occupied Crimea.”
RUSSIA’S LONG-RANGE WAR
Russia kamikaze drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missile continue to strike Ukrainian cities. The targeting is very poor, precisiion-targeting seems non-existent. Russia seem not to care what they hit as long as they hit something. This week’s vital military installations included a Red Cross warehouse, and a swimming pool in Zaporizhzhia. You probably also heard about this week’s mass raids.
So here’s a few notable stories you probably have not heard:
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UKRAINE’S NEW SKY SENTINEL SPOTTED IN FIELD
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Sky Sentinel turret spotted
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“A remote-controlled anti-drone turret armed with a 12.7 mm Browning M2 has been spotted in a Ukrainian field. The automated system is powered by an EcoFlow battery unit..”
The deployment of Sky Sentinels was announced last month (ISSUE 37) after they shot down almost 100 Russian drones in one attack. But the Sky Sentinel had not been photographed deployed until now.
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DRONE CITY EXPANSION
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New Production Facilities Being Built at Alabuga Drone City
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“The facility is located about 1,200 km from the Ukrainian border, near the city of Yelabuga in Tatarstan. It manufactures and assembles various models of Shahed/Geran kamikaze drones.
Work has begun in the southern section of the zone, where the construction area covers approximately 340 hectares.”
USEFUL IDIOTS, ESPIONAGE & ACTIVE MEASURES
SOCIAL ENGINEERING DISTORTS REALITY
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The social engineers at Russia’s Social Design Agency have years of experience using the internet to spread disinformation. Bloomberg discovered they are now seeding the training data that AIs use with pro-Russian disinformation to distort search results.
Russia’s Wiki Warfare Tries to Distort Reality, Documents Show
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“Leaked files reveal the Social Design Agency’s efforts to control the information that underpins search engines and AI chatbots.
“Their approach is to try to break search engines by flooding the zone with content that cross-references their content or their narratives,” said Katerina Sedova… The plan also aimed to “train” six AI platforms a month using edited articles.”
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UKRAINIAN ANTI-TERRORISM CHIEF SOLD SECRETS FOR CASH
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Senior Ukrainian intelligence official jailed for life for spying for Russia
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“Col Dmytro Kozyura was found guilty of high treason under martial law, Ukraine’s prosecutor general said. He was previously chief of staff of the Security Service of Ukraine’s (SBU) anti-terrorism centre.
An operation codenamed “rat” found he had used a safehouse in Kyiv to communicate with Russian handlers seeking classified information about Ukraine’s military and leadership, the SBU said.”
FOREIGN AID & INVESTMENT IN UKRAINE
CO-PRODUCTION DEALS THIS WEEK
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Latvia Plans to Launch Joint Drone Production With Ukraine in Border Region of Latgale.
Netherlands Invests Over €30 Million in Ukrainian UAV Developer Intelic.
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US MILITARY AID HAS NOT STOPPED… YET
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Ukraine Received $8.2 Billion in U.S. Aid From October Through March
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“This was reported by Militarnyi following an analysis of the audit reports for “Operation Atlantic Resolve Including U.S. Government Activities Related to Ukraine,” covering the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026.
As of October 2025, according to estimates by the U.S. Department of Defense, the value of defense goods and services delivered to Ukraine amounted to approximately 33% of the $33.31 billion in total USAI appropriations.”
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NORWAY SECRETLY DELIVERS DRONE WARHEAD
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More and more we are hearing about new weapons after they have gone into service in Ukraine. For obvious reasons, this is a very good idea.
Norway’s Nammo Covertly Supplies Ukraine with Hundreds of Thousands of N7 Drone Munitions
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“The N7 is a high-explosive munition capable of penetrating up to 450 mm of homogeneous armor and features a modern electronic fuse.
Designed specifically for drone integration, it enables the munition to be switched into safe mode at the operator’s command. This makes it possible to safely return the drone if a target is not found.”
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POLISH-UKRAINIAN HISTORICAL DISPUTE CONTINUES
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Poland’s Defense Minister Refuses to Transfer MiG-29s to Ukraine Despite PGZ Drone Agreement
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““The Ukrainians initially agreed, but they did not follow through on the agreement. Therefore, there will be no MiGs for Ukraine, because Poland has neither drones nor the capability to use them,” the Polish defense minister said.”
Ukraine and Poland Can’t Agree on Who Will Pay for MiG-29 Repairs
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“Ukraine and Poland can’t agree on who will pay for the repairs to promised MiG-29s in exchange for the transfer of drone technology. Due to a lack of maintenance, the technical condition of the MiG-29s was deemed unsatisfactory. The landing gear was a particular cause for concern.”
It looks like this deal is going nowhere. Would any of this happened if Ukraine had not decided to name an army unit after a WWII paramilitary unit who slaughtered Polish civilians? Well done, Zelensky.
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ANOTHER €3.9 BILLION IN EU FUNDS RELEASED
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EU sends Ukraine 3.9 billion Euros for drones — and explains the holdup
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“The payment is part of the EU’s €90 billion loan for Ukraine, approved in April after months of delay caused by Hungary’s veto.
The remaining payments within the €6 billion tranche are expected “in the coming days,” officials added.”
EUROPE & CANADA REARM
UK RESHAPES ITS MILITARY BASED ON UKRAINE’S EXPERIENCE
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There’s been a lot of fuss in the UK, mostly driven by partisan politics, about this revolution in how the UK will fight wars. Recognising how this conflict (and the attack on Iran too) has changed warfare is very smart. It is what every NATO member should be doing:
Tanks and armoured vehicles are no longer the kings of the battlefield.
Operating manned aircraft exclusively is expensive and unnecessary (this decision could and should have been taken two decades ago).
Exquisite, gold-plated warships are drone and missile magnets. Smaller crews, drone tech, and cheaper ships are preferable.
The thawing Arctic is vital to the UK’s interests.
The UK’s excellent light infantry are too vulnerable to FPV drones and need to be retrained for drone warfare.
You need cheap, mass-produced drones to overwhelm defences.
Cheaper, mass-produced missiles that do the job asked of them are preferable to easily exhausted supplies of boutique weapons like Storm Shadow.
All exquisite weapons are not obsolete. You just have to choose very carefully which ones you develop, build, or acquire.
Frankly, it is impressive that the UK’s conservative military establishment has accepted this. Quite extraordinary that they are willing to learn from the invasion of Ukraine. Historically, this is a very rare event.
Ukraine’s tactics are rewriting UK defense plans
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“UK drops new warship funding, redirects £5 billion to drones modelled on Ukraine”
UK Cancels Type 83 Destroyer, Orders Six Drone Command Ships Instead
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“Arriving Early 2030s With 128 Missile Cells, Lasers and 100-Person Crew…
New Defense Minister Jarvis reveals Ukraine’s Black Sea Fleet lessons drove concept shift as BAE Systems Type 26-based Air Warfare Command Ship competes with Babcock Type 31 design…”
United Kingdom Investing in New Amphibious Assault Ships for Joint Fleet with the Netherlands
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“The new ships are intended to restore the capabilities of the amphibious fleet, which has been significantly reduced. The Royal Navy has not had a dedicated amphibious dock landing ship since HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark were decommissioned from the fleet in late 2024 due to crew shortages and technical issues.
British and Dutch marines have been operating together for over fifty years as part of the UK/NL Amphibious Force… “Investments in new, larger amphibious assault ships to support British commando operations are aimed at creating a new joint fleet with the Netherlands,” the ministry stated.”
Hundreds of British Soldiers Will Undergo Training in Use of Drones and Electronic Warfare
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“These exercises will begin several years after the United Kingdom canceled large-scale exercises involving tanks and artillery at this facility…
Canadian and British sides are working together to modernize the Suffield Training Base in Southern Alberta. This new phase of cooperation is less focused on large-scale maneuvers and more on testing technologies needed by both armies.”
Britain to Drop Storm Shadow Procurement in Favour of Cheaper Alternatives
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“The new approach is expected to significantly expand the UK’s stockpile of precision-guided weapons while increasing production rates.
The main advantage of the new systems is their cost: each unit will cost almost half as much as a Storm Shadow missile.
The UK will also continue developing the Stratus project, which is intended to become a full replacement for the Storm Shadow and, in addition to aircraft, will also equip surface combat ships. The missile is being proposed in two versions: an anti-ship version and a strike version for both air and surface platforms.
Additionally, under the Project Brakestop program, three British companies have developed prototypes of new missiles that have already completed flight testing in Scotland.”
UK and Germany Plan 2,000km Hypersonic Stealth Deep Precision Strike Missiles
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“In British government-approved Defense Investment Plan distributing £298 billion (approximately $395 billion) defense spending through 2030, separate attention is devoted to long-range strikes.
Besides [the] decision to retire Storm Shadow cruise missiles and create replacement relying on Ukrainian technological developments, [there is] financing [for] Stratus missile creation at £1.4 billion ($1.86 billion) and for other projects.”
British Military Tests New Nyan Kamikaze Drone
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“The British Armed Forces have conducted the first tests of BAE Systems’ new Nyan strike drone in both maritime and land-based operations.
This small unmanned aircraft has a wingspan of 2.9 meters and is designed to deliver high-precision strikes against enemy targets, according to the company. The drone was designed with mass production in mind.
The demonstration of a new shipboard strike capability comes amid advancing plans to integrate drones deeply across the fleet.”
Meteor Air-to-Air Missile Only Entered UK Service in 2018, Britain Already Decided New FASE Program Replacement
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“FASE is [a] program directed at developing next-generation long-range air-to-air assets.
Analogies are drawn with Storm Shadow, also planned for replacement with new cheaper analog. In other words, today’s available systems demonstrated their effectiveness, but London wants to obtain greater new capabilities.”
Britain’s Defence Investment Plan Confirms F-35A Nuclear Buy
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“Decision to buy F-35As for nuclear bombs drew criticism in Britain, but officials have now confirmed the programme will go ahead to expand deterrence capability.”
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ROMANIA CONTINUES TO BUILD LAYERED AIR DEFENCE
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Patriot batteries are not enough. You also need medium-range and short range air defence systems that overlap, defend, and support each other. Romania is doing just that. The latest addition is the Israeli SPYDER medium-range missile launcher.
Romania Orders SPYDER Air Defense Systems
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“The SPYDER is a family of mobile air defense systems that use Rafael’s PYTHON-5 and DERBY/I-DERBY ER missiles, adapted for launch from ground-based launchers after being used in air-to-air mode.”
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POLES BUY THREE SUBS FROM SWEDEN
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Poland Signs $4.8B Deal for Three A26 Submarine
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“Saab leases interim submarine starting August 2026 crew training as Sweden invests €100M in Polish industry and 1,000km cruise missile integration may explain delays.”
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LATVIA AND ESTONIA COMMIT ALL FORCES TO NATO
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This streamlining is highly significant, and indicates NATO’s desire to defend the Baltic nations. A joint Dutch-German corps already exists to defend these nations. A unified command streamlines and unifies all these forces.
Latvia’s and Estonia’s Land Forces Placed Under New NATO Command
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“The change is part of NATO’s ongoing reorganization of its command structure, designed to speed up the Alliance’s military response and strengthen combat readiness on its eastern flank bordering Russia.”
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GERMANY SELECTS SECOND ANTI BALLISTIC MISSILE SITE
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Germany Selects Second Arrow 3 Missile Defense Site to Strengthen Shield Against Ballistic Threats
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“Germany has selected a second deployment site for its Israeli-made Arrow 3 missile defense system, expanding the country’s future ballistic missile shield with a new system near Großkaufbeuren in the federal state of Bavaria.
The system is capable of engaging ballistic missiles such as Russia’s iskander and Oreshnik, as well as potentially intercontinental ballistic missiles, making it one of the most advanced missile defense systems currently entering European service.”
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PORTUGAL’S TEKEVER TO OPEN FACTOREIS IN JAPAN AND THE UK
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Tekever has battle-tested all its drones in Ukraine. Their success has attracted the attention of Japan which is looking to ready itself for drone warfare.
Tokyo Boosts UAV Production
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“Combat-proven Potuguese Tekever drones used by Ukraine [will be built in a ] drone manufacturing facility in Japan in partnership with Japanese trading corporation Marubeni.
Tokyo has expanded cooperation with Ukraine in several UAV-related fields, including interceptor drone development, while simultaneously accelerating its own procurement and industrial programs.
In 2025, it was announced the firm would open a new U.K. factory in Swindon next year to produce the UAS and other platforms, including the larger AR5 platform and the AR3 StormShroud drones already in use with the RAF.
Director of Tekever Defence Karl Brew commented: “The site will play a central role in the production of our new AR3 Evo system and in creating up to 1,000 highly skilled jobs over the next five years.””
That’s all for now. See you next week.
Excellent reporting thank you!
Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦Heroyam Slava!
We stand in solidarity 🇺🇦🇬🇧
Your reporting is almost overwhelming. There is so much more than is ever mentioned in our media of any kind. It’s thrilling to see how Ukraine has adapted and is certainly making a difference. Thank you for the many hours of effort you put into this reporting. We love the good news!