In the second half of June, Ukraine significantly stepped up attacks on russian military, oil refining, and logistics infrastructure. The most notable result of the Ukrainian attacks was a large-scale gasoline crisis that swept across russia.

Ukrainian drones continue to systematically destroy russia's oil refining industry. They have struck facilities located more than a thousand kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

On June 20, Ukrainian drones attacked an oil refinery in Tyumen, 2,000 km from the Ukrainian border. On June 24, they struck a gas processing plant in Orenburg, the largest gas chemical complex in the world, about 1,200 km from the Ukrainian border. On June 25, they attacked an oil refinery in Ufa, about 1,400 km from the Ukrainian border.

Of the ten largest russian oil refineries, only two were not attacked, as they are located too far from Ukraine — more than 2,800 km away.
As a result of these attacks, there are almost no regions left in russia that have not been affected by the fuel crisis. Moreover, it is felt most acutely where Ukrainian drones have not reached. Fuel is simply being diverted from those regions for the russian army and for moscow. For example, in the Irkutsk region (more than 4,500 km from the Ukrainian border), drivers have to wait in line at gas stations for up to 18 hours. And in Transbaikalia, which is even further east from the Ukrainian border, gas stations sell no more than 15 liters of fuel per customer. Fuel prices have risen sharply throughout russia.
At the same time, russian ruler putin assures his subjects that “the situation with gasoline is not critical.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted in this regard: “putin can say as much as he wants on TV that he supposedly controls everything, that there is gasoline. But the russians themselves, standing in the queues for gasoline in different regions of russia, can really see that this ‘three-day war’ of theirs has been going on for five years, so much so that even the oil state, the ‘gas station,’ as russia was called, is now facing a gasoline shortage.”

The war is coming home

Starting on June 16, Ukrainian drones carried out several massive strikes on moscow. They managed to break through the multi-layered air defenses of the russian capital. Among other things, they destroyed an oil refinery in moscow, which played a major role in supplying the russian capital with gasoline. According to experts, restoring the facility will takeat least until the end of 2026. Gasoline sales at moscow gas stations were limited to 30 liters per car.

In addition, near moscow, drones twice hit the Dubna space communications center. According to President Zelensky, “this is a special satellite communications facility that is used, in particular, for reconnaissance and for coordinating the activities of the russian occupation contingent in Ukraine.”
No less important is the symbolic significance of the strike on moscow. Thus, the war has returned home — to where it was conceived.
Separately, it is necessary to mention Ukrainian missile strikes on Russian factories that produce military equipment. On June 22, missiles hit an electronics plant in Voronezh, which produced parts for missiles and air defense systems. On June 27, a missile strike was carried out on a plant in Volgograd, which produces artillery systems and missile launchers.

The main trophy has become the main problem

The enemy infrastructure on the occupied Crimean Peninsula has suffered particularly devastating damage.

During the second half of June, several railway bridges were destroyed there, as well as repair equipment that had been brought in to restore them. On June 21, Ukrainian drones attacked a ferry crossing across the Kerch Strait. Oil terminals and air defense positions were also destroyed throughout the peninsula. On June 24, drones hit a power plant near Sevastopol — until recently, the main russian naval base in the Black Sea.
As a result, the sale of gasoline to the civilian population has completely stopped on the peninsula. Whereas millions of tourists used to visit the peninsula's resorts during the summer season, now there are almost no people wishing to vacation in Crimea. On June 26, the occupation authorities introduced a state of emergency in Crimea for an indefinite period.

Twelve years ago, russian aggression against Ukraine began with the occupation and annexation of Crimea. Now the peninsula has become the biggest problem for russia and for its inept ruler himself.
 

On June 11, Ukraine celebrates the Day of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the first time. It became the first country in the world to create such a force in it’s army in the summer of 2024. And on June 11, 2025, the Unmanned Systems Forces Group was created, which included 12 combat units. Over the year, it’s fighters showed very high combat effectiveness. They hit about 350 thousand enemy targets, about 100 thousand Russian soldiers. The material losses of the russians from these strikes are estimated at almost $ 40 billion.

Born in the crucible of war, the Unmanned Systems Forces became the answer to its most acute challenges.

The Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces unite all the key unmanned capabilities of the army: air, ground and sea. They provide fire damage, reconnaissance and correction, logistics and evacuation of the wounded on the front line, air defense, training and development of the latest military technologies.

The Unmanned Systems Forces have transferred the war to russian territory. They paralyze logistics in the near enemy rear and destroy enemy military-industrial infrastructure a thousand kilometers or more from the front line.

Since December 2025, the Deep Strike Center has been operating within the Unmanned Systems Forces, which plans operations to strike at strategic depth. Long-range Ukrainian drones strike enemy targets at a distance of 1,500-1,800 km from the front line. Now even very remote russian regions have ceased to be a safe rear.

The symbol of the Unmanned Systems Forces is a steel swallow; their slogan is “our strength is reason.”

“The Unmanned Systems Forces are the youngest, but already one of the most effective individual branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” said the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrsky, in his congratulatory address. “Ukraine has forced the world to take a new look at the role of unmanned systems in modern warfare. Drones have long ceased to be an experiment or an auxiliary tool. They have become one of the main tools of modern warfare and one of the key factors in preserving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.” 

The Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces are shaping new standards and rules for conducting modern warfare – a war where people think and decide, and drones execute. They are constantly improving, opening up new opportunities and creating new ways to fight the enemy. Ukrainians have proven that thanks to technological sophistication, creativity and courage, war can be changed.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to maintain the initiative in certain areas of the front and deliver effective strikes against the enemy in it’s operational and strategic depth. This was stated by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrsky, reporting on the results of the fighting in May. According to him, since the beginning of the year, Ukrainian troops have liberated more than 600 sq. km of Ukrainian land.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has launched the “Logistical Lockdown” program. It’s goal is to scale up strikes on Russian troops and logistics in rear areas at an operational depth of 50 to 160 kilometers. The Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov noted that Ukraine is gradually seizing the initiative at the front, and the price of advancement for the russians is constantly growing. If in October last year the enemy lost 67 soldiers per 1 km² of advancement, then in April it was already 179. There is a noticeable pattern: the more russian logistics are destroyed in the near rear, the less their assault actions at the front.

Therefore, now the Ukrainian troops intend to scale up the middle strike as much as possible and create a complete logistical lockdown for the enemy. As part of the program, the Ministry of Defense has additionally allocated about 115 million dollars for the purchase of modern middle strike means.

Meanwhile, drone pilots of the Azov National Guard Corps are taking control of the roads along the coast of the Sea of Azov, important logistical arteries for russians in the occupied territories. Even russian propagandists are forced to admit that Ukrainian drones are reaching places where no significant threat was previously expected, and the russian command cannot influence the situation.

Recently, when asked by the host of one of the official russian TV channels about the situation on the front line, a military propagandist replied: “The situation is such that the russian troops have 17 drones per kilometer, and the enemy has 10 drones per one of our attack aircraft that goes on the offensive.”

Economy "with smoke"

Ukrainian long-range drones visited the outskirts of St. Petersburg (the second largest and most important russian city), where the International Economic Forum was held under the auspices of russian ruler putin. They hit an oil terminal just 16 km from the forum site, bombed a naval base, where they hit a warship and an ammunition depot. The smoke from the fires really impressed the forum participants. No less impressed were the forum guests and residents of the city by the weakness of russian air defense.

According to the British Telegraph, the Afghan Taliban delegation even recognized St. Petersburg as more dangerous than Kabul. And although the russian ruler assured those present that russian troops were succeeding, against this background his words sounded very unconvincing.

The collapse of russian oil refining

Ukrainian strikes on russian oil refining and oil transportation infrastructure are having an increasingly greater effect. In many regions of russia and in temporarily occupied territories, there is a shortage of gasoline and other fuels.

In occupied Crimea, the sale of gasoline has been completely stopped for an indefinite period. But fuel problems have arisen not only in the occupied Ukrainian territories and in the front-line regions of russia. In the russian capital, moscow, after strikes by Ukrainian drones on oil refining and oil transportation infrastructure, the sale of gasoline has also been restricted. In total, fuel sales have been significantly restricted in 15 regions of russia and the occupied territories! And this despite the fact that the russian authorities have banned the export of gasoline from April 2 to July 30, as well as the export of aviation fuel from June 1 to November 30, 2026.

Before the start of full-scale aggression against Ukraine, russia was one of the largest exporters of refined petroleum products. It was even jokingly called a gas station country. Now, after the strikes by Ukrainian drones, russia cannot provide gasoline even to its own citizens!

The Ukrainian army has the most advanced experience of modern warfare. Ukrainian soldiers call for foreign volunteers to join their ranks and are ready to share with them the most modern military experience.

On May 27, Ukraine celebrates Special Operations Forces Day. On this day in 2014, fighters of the special forces regiment, with the support of fighters from other units, defeated detachments of russian militants and liberated the Donetsk airport terminal from them.

10 years ago, in 2016, the Special Operations Forces were created on the basis of the special forces regiments – the youngest and most modern component of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Their credo is the advantage of quality over quantity.

After the start of the full-scale russian invasion in February 2022, soldiers of the Special Operations Forces distinguished themselves in the hottest areas of the front. They were in the defense of Kyiv, in the liberation of Zmiiniy Island in the Black Sea, in the lightning counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region, in the liberation of Kherson, in the battle for Bakhmut, and captured drilling platforms in the Black Sea. In 2024-2025, they took an active part in the operation in the Kursk region of russia, where, among other things, they captured soldiers of the North Korean army who participated in the war on the side of the russians.

Soldiers of the Special Operations Forces often perform the most difficult and dangerous tasks. Their units are the first to enter the enemy's rear by land, sea and air, preparing the basis for operations to liberate Ukraine from the invaders. Their combat path is a chronicle of unique tasks that have already entered the history of military art.

In addition, the Special Operations Forces are engaged in organizing the Resistance Movement in temporarily occupied territories. Psychological operations units plan and carry out tasks to influence the enemy both on the front line and in the deep rear.

The specifics of the activities of the Special Operations Forces often make their missions classified, so they become known either only in general terms or after a significant period of time. Their symbol is a werewolf, which symbolizes a warrior with supernatural abilities.

Servicemen who are going to serve in special operations forces units undergo special selection, and then special training. Experienced instructors teach recruits various military specialties. Foreign volunteers can also be selected and join special operations forces units, undergo appropriate training and acquire unique skills and military experience. In particular, the 140th and 144th Special Operations Forces Centers invite foreign volunteers to their ranks.

140th Special Operations Forces Center 144th Special Operations Forces Center

As the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky noted in his congratulatory address, “Special Operations Forces are one of the most effective components of our defense. Precise operations and always important results for the state. Soldiers prove their strength, endurance and professionalism every day in the fight for Ukraine.”

“You are the elite of the Ukrainian army,” said the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Syrsky. “Your units work beyond the limits of the possible – they are the first to enter the enemy’s rear by land, air, water and underwater. Where others see tasks of superhuman complexity, you act decisively, imperceptibly and effectively. "Today, in the conditions of a full-scale war, you prove your effectiveness every day, delivering pinpoint and painful blows to the occupiers both on the territory of Ukraine and in the aggressor country. Your contribution to the future victory is invaluable".

The number of offensive actions by the Ukrainian Defense Forces has recently begun to exceed those of the russians. This was stated by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrsky. “The intensity and number of combat actions on their part have decreased. The number of offensive and counterattack actions on our part has increased,” he said.

Analysts from the American Institute for the Study of War also note that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are regaining tactical initiative in various sectors of the front line. According to their data, Ukrainian counterattacks and medium-range strikes on russian logistics have largely neutralized the Russian offensive potential.

"Ukraine is striking deeper and deeper into russia than ever before. russian advances on the battlefield have slowed dramatically and may have stopped altogether," writes the British Telegraph.

The war has come to moscow

Ukrainian defense forces have launched a massive strike on oil refining and defense facilities in and around the russian capital. In particular, the moscow oil refinery, two oil pumping stations, and a defense plant in Zelenograd, a city near moscow that is one of the largest manufacturers of microcircuits, were hit. The destruction of these facilities is a significant blow to the fuel logistics and military capabilities of the aggressor state.

The success of this operation is of particular importance, since moscow and the moscow region are among the most air-defence-protected regions of russia. But the results of the attack indicate that there is no longer a safe place in russia that a Ukrainian drone cannot reach.

Ukrainian robots successfully attack enemy infantry

The fighters of the 100th mechanized brigade conducted a successful robotic assault on an enemy position. In the city of Kostyantynivka, a russian sabotage and reconnaissance group captured an abandoned high-rise building to set up a base. Since there were not enough personnel at the nearest Ukrainian position, the brigade command attacked the invaders with the help of three ground robotic complexes.

The first ground drone acted as a decoy – the russians focused fire on it. While the enemy was distracted, a second kamikaze drone loaded with 300 kilograms of explosives drove up from the rear. The third robot delivered additional weapons to the Ukrainian infantrymen to a neighboring position in advance to complete the operation. After the explosion, the Ukrainian soldiers surrounded the ruins and offered the surviving occupiers to surrender. They refused and opened fire, after which the entire group of eight russians was eliminated.

Long-range Drones were armed with rockets

Fighters of the Ukrainian Forces of Unmanned Systems have used another invention against the enemy: unguided rockets from the sides of long-range drones at an operational depth of up to 500 kilometers.

Unguided rockets are used on helicopters and attack aircraft against ground targets. But in modern warfare, aviation will not reach where Ukrainian drones fly.

“The combined method of use – a kamikaze drone with a 60 kg warhead + 8 rockets – opens up completely different possibilities,” says the commander of the Forces of Unmanned Systems, a major with the call sign “Madyar”.

One of the techniques is that first the unguided rockets hit the air defense and mobile fire groups of the russians, and then the drone attacks the enemy object. Mobile air defense fire groups armed with portable anti-aircraft systems and machine guns are especially vulnerable to rocket attacks. "Madyar" advised the soldiers of the enemy mobile groups to hide in the bushes and not to interfere with the work of Ukrainian drones. 

Ukraine has become a forge of the most modern weapons, and the Ukrainian army has the most advanced experience of modern warfare. Ukrainian soldiers are calling for foreign volunteers to join their ranks and are ready to share with them the most modern military experience.

4 years ago, the defense of the city of Mariupol ended - one of the most heroic and tragic pages of Ukrainian resistance to russian aggression. This battle lasted 86 days (February 24 - May 20, 2022), 82 of which the Ukrainian defenders of the city fought in complete encirclement. Here the russians committed terrible war crimes - causing a humanitarian catastrophe and destroying tens of thousands of civilians.

Mariupol - a large city, industrial center and port on the Sea of Azov - was very close to the territories of Donbas, which the russians captured back in 2014. This city symbolized a free and prosperous Ukrainian Donbas. Therefore, from the first hours of the full-scale invasion, Mariupol became a priority target for the russians. Having a significant advantage in manpower and equipment, complete domination in the sky and at sea, the invaders tried to seize the city from the east.

But the plan for a quick assault in the first days of the invasion failed. Then the russian command redirected columns of armored vehicles that were heading to Zaporizhia to Mariupol. The blockaded city attracted large forces of the invaders. They took Mariupol into a siege ring and began shelling and bombing the city.

During the siege, russian aviation carried out up to 100 strikes on the city per day. Immediately, the russians targeted the energy infrastructure and hit firefighting equipment. On March 16, a russian plane dropped a powerful bomb on the building of the drama theater, where about 1,200 civilians were hiding from the shelling. Approximately half of these people died. The invaders were not stopped even by the fact that “CHILDREN” was written in large letters in front of the theater. The russians also attacked hospitals that were overflowing with wounded people, and even a maternity hospital.

According to the Mariupol City Hall, about 90% of the city’s buildings were destroyed or damaged as a result of russian shelling. According to various estimates, from 25 to 75 thousand civilians died. In fact, the russians destroyed a large, thriving city, which by February 24, 2022 had a population of about 450 thousand. Thousands of Mariupol residents passed through russian filtration camps, where they were subjected to abuse.

Fierce street fighting lasted for more than two months. The center and symbol of the city’s defense was the large Azovstal metallurgical plant, which had large dungeons. In support of the surrounded defenders of Mariupol, an airlift was organized in March-April. Facing mortal danger, Ukrainian helicopter crews flew to the surrounded city - delivering ammunition and medicine to the defenders, evacuating the wounded. A total of seven such raids were carried out, in which 16 helicopters were involved.

Thousands of russian invaders died in the battles for the city, including a general - division commander and a captain of the 1st rank - deputy commander of the russian Black Sea fleet, who drove the marines into battle. The russians also lost more than a hundred units of armored vehicles, including 78 tanks, 4 aircraft and 1 landing craft.

By the end of April, the defense ring had shrunk to the territory of the Azovstal plant, which had been converted into a fortress. Starting on May 3, the russians storm Azovstal, but the fortress-like plant holds out. Having suffered heavy losses, the russians subject Azovstal to massive artillery fire and unprecedented air attacks. Heavy air bombs pierce the vaults of two bunkers, one of which housed a hospital. As a result, several dozen soldiers and medics die.

The defenders of Azovstal are running out of ammunition, and the medics are running out of medicine and painkillers. About 600 wounded are in unsanitary conditions, without medicine, water, or food. In such conditions, the higher military-political leadership of Ukraine ordered the Mariupol garrison to save the lives of its personnel. The garrison ceases resistance, and on May 20, the withdrawal of the defenders from Azovstal is complete.

The heroic garrison of Mariupol honorably fulfilled its tasks. For almost three months, the city's defenders held off significant enemy forces. Thanks to them, Ukraine gained critical time to build up reserves, regroup forces, and receive foreign aid. The heroic defense of Mariupol buried the russians' plans for a quick victory.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the service of foreign volunteers with combat commanders and awarded two volunteer soldiers from Colombia with orders.

The head of state visited the 31st mechanized brigade, which is conducting defensive battles. At the brigade command post, together with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, met with the soldiers of the unit. The president listened to the brigade commander, discussed with the battalion and company commanders the features of the service of foreigners in the brigade, their recruitment, training and integration.

In addition, the development of the use of ground robotic complexes was discussed. The soldiers of the 31st brigade presented their own system of logistics using ground drones, which allows reducing the level of material losses. In particular, 60% of the unit's logistics are performed by ground drones.

The president and the commander-in-chief also visited the command post of the 20th Corps, which includes the 31st Brigade.

The head of state thanked the defenders of Ukraine for their service, and awarded the soldiers who distinguished themselves in battles with orders. Among the awardees are two Colombian volunteers who help deter russian aggression and defend Ukraine in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2025. They were awarded for their significant contribution to the defense of our country, the destruction of the enemy, and the preservation of the lives of their comrades. Thus, on November 28, 2025, both volunteer soldiers took part in the evacuation of a seriously wounded defender from the battlefield. Despite poor visibility, fire damage, and assault actions by the russians, they covered 10 kilometers on foot as part of a group to help their comrade and evacuate him.

“I am sure that the russians are already reeling. "And this is thanks to the fact that you, with your strength and courage, have stood and defended Ukraine for so many years in a row," the President of Ukraine said, addressing the military.

From May 10, 2026, the law regulating the legal status and medical care of foreign military personnel has changed in Ukraine. The Government approved new rules for stay and processing documents for foreigners who have joined Ukrainian Army Units - simplified obtaining temporary residence permits.

The permit is issued for the entire term of the contract plus an additional six months after its expiration, or for six months after the early termination of the contract. This period of six months is important for the social adaptation of a foreign veteran or his safe departure. Foreign contract workers receive a permit with a special code.

The Government has removed a few bureaucratic obstacles that were previously mandatory for all foreigners. Foreigners who have joined the Ukrainian army no longer have to look for a place to register, and the Migration Service will no longer check the address of their place of residence in Ukraine. After all, their address is often where they perform combat missions.

In order to obtain a temporary residence permit, you must have the following package of documents:

- passport or identity document;
- a notarized translation into Ukrainian of the page of the passport or document with personal data;
- a document certifying payment of the administrative fee (1,140 hryvnias, about 26 USD);
- a military registration document or military serviceman's certificate;
- a contract for military service;
- an obligation of the military unit to notify the State Migration Service of early termination of the contract.
 

With this set of documents, you must apply to the local branch of the State Migration Service or to the Center for the Provision of Administrative Services (only in the city of Kyiv). The certificate is produced and issued within 15 working days and must be received personally by the serviceman no later than 6 months from the date of its issuance.

Foreign military personnel who do not have a residence permit in Ukraine are required to obtain a temporary residence permit from May 10 to November 11, 2026. Thus, foreigners who conclude a contract with units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine receive a legally defined status and a set of legal guarantees for the duration of their service and after its completion. This creates more predictable and understandable conditions for those who join The Ukrainian.

Ukraine appreciates the contribution and assistance of foreign volunteers in the national war for the Independence of Ukraine. "Supporting those who stood shoulder to shoulder with us in the defense of Ukraine is our duty and responsibility," the Ukrainian government emphasizes.

With the onset of spring and warming, the russians have intensified their offensive almost along the entire front line. In conditions where the enemy has greater resources in equipment and personnel, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are choosing an asymmetric strategy instead of a “war of attrition”.

“Our key tasks are to make every step of the enemy as costly as possible, to destroy the enemy, to restrain his advance, to strike rear areas, in particular, military-industrial complex facilities deep inside russian territory,” says the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrsky.

As a result, the enemy is suffering losses that exceed its capabilities to replenish its units. March became a record month for losses for the russians in all categories: from air defense systems to personnel – about 36 thousand soldiers killed and wounded.

The invaders are losing a safe rear

The UAV Forces are inflicting the greatest losses on the enemy's manpower. They have orders to kill more enemy soldiers every month than Russia is able to recruit. As the commander of the Ukrainian UAV Forces, Robert Brovdy "Magyar", noted in an interview with the British BBC (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1d9wvd2e4ro), they have orders to destroy more than 30 thousand invaders every month and have been achieving this goal for the fourth month. He also noted that "the territory at a distance of 1,500-2,000 km deep into russia is no longer a peaceful rear, because Ukrainian drones fly there whenever and wherever they want."

According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, since the beginning of the full-scale russian invasion, Ukrainian defenders have increased the range of deep strikes on the aggressor's deep rear by more than 2.5 times. If in 2022 it was possible to hit a military facility approximately 630 km from the front line, then in 2026 it will be about 1,800 km. The other day, Ukrainian drones “visited” the distant russian cities of Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk, where military-industrial facilities and military training centers are located. Interestingly, the day before, even the former russian defense minister shoigu admitted that the Urals (the region where these cities are located) can no longer be considered a safe rear.

Successful hunting on the Black Sea

However, Ukrainian defenders do not forget about much closer enemy targets. After the third attack by Ukrainian drones in a month, the oil refining and oil-tanking infrastructure in the city and port of Tuapse on the Black Sea was actually destroyed.

Drones of the Security Service of Ukraine successfully attacked enemy military facilities on the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula. As a result of this attack, the large landing ships Yamal and Filchenkov, the reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs were hit; two radar stations and an air defense headquarters, the infrastructure of a military airfield and one aircraft.

And soon, special operations forces drones hit the Iskander missile system storage site on the peninsula. Data on the camouflaged storage base was provided by participants in the Ukrainian resistance movement in the occupied territories.

More combat robots on the front

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky instructed the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff to deliver 50 thousand ground robotic systems to the Defense Forces of Ukraine in 2026. The real need of combat units in combat robots and the level of supply will be checked monthly. He made this decision following the results of a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters, where this issue was considered.

According to President Zelensky, ground robotic complexes are currently one of the most pressing requests from the Ukrainian military.

“Everyone should understand that this is the protection of life. Logistics at the front, evacuation of the wounded, combat missions - now the use of ground robotic complexes is developing as actively as possible. "That's how it should be," says President Zelensky.

(Read more about the successful Ukrainian experience in the development and use of ground robotic complexes here https://joinuarmy.org/en/all-news/forbes-ukrainian-combat-robots/)

A new Ukrainian invention

A light twin-engine AN-28 aircraft has been armed with P1-Sun drone interceptors. The aircraft has three mounts on each wing, meaning it carries six drone interceptors in total. The new method allows for the destruction of enemy air targets, using the drone as an affordable and cheaper alternative to air-to-air missiles. Drone operators can control them from the aircraft cabin.

This is the first time in history that an aircraft has become a platform for launching anti-aircraft drones!

As we have already said, the Ukrainian P1-Sun drone interceptor has shown its effectiveness in the fight against drones of the type Shahed, with which the Russians are terrorizing Ukrainian cities. Light aircraft AN-28 armed with machine guns have also proven their effectiveness against Russian drones of this type. From now on, thanks to the combination of various means of destruction, the fight against Russian drones reaches a new level.

Ukraine has become a forge of the most modern weapons, and the Ukrainian army has the most advanced experience of modern warfare. Ukrainian soldiers call for foreign volunteers to join their ranks and are ready to share with them the most modern military experience.

Four years ago, Ukraine won a major victory at sea. On April 13, 2022, Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles hit the flagship of the russian Black Sea Fleet, the cruiser «Moskva». The next day, the ship sank.

The russian flagship probably believed that they were keeping a safe distance from the Ukrainian coast - about 120 km. But, as the Ukrainian military later recalled, that day superior forces were on the side of Ukraine.

The fact is that the Ukrainian radars available at that time could not see beyond the horizon. But low, dense clouds created additional opportunities. The signal was reflected from the clouds to the surface of the water, and from it back to the clouds - and in such a corridor the radar saw the "Moskva" and was able to target the missiles. The target was clearly identified and attacked.

The cruiser "Moskva" had a powerful three-level air defense system: the "Fort" anti-aircraft missile system with a range of 75 km, two "Osa-M" missile systems - 10-15 km, and 4 rapid-fire six-barreled guns. Not far from the "Moskva" were modern frigates, which could also use their air defense systems.

The decisive factor was that the Ukrainian missiles flew at an extremely low altitude - about 3 meters above the water. Therefore, the Russian air defense did not notice them in time. As a result, two "Neptunes" with a small interval hit the port side of the "Moskva".

However, the flagship cruiser is a huge ship 186 meters long (almost two football fields). It is not so easy to destroy it even by hit by hit. And here again success – the missiles hit precisely the most critical places of the flagship: the engine room, the central command post of the ship’s survivability and the “cellar”, where anti-aircraft ammunition was stored… However, the crew fought for the cruiser’s survivability, and the ships that were nearby rushed to help.

And here again nature came to the aid of the Ukrainians. A storm with a force of three points arose at sea. Under normal conditions, this does not pose any threat to a large ship. But under conditions when the ship was hit by missiles – it was much more difficult for the crew to fight for its survivability, and for other ships to approach and provide assistance.

They tried to tow the damaged “Moskva” to the naval base, but it gave a significant list and sank.

Obviously, the death of the flagship is not only a great loss, but also a major blow to military-political prestige. To minimize the scale of the defeat, his russian propaganda initially published a version that a fire had broken out on the ship and ammunition had detonated. In order not to cast a shadow on the helm of the country, russian propagandists discredited the dead sailors: they said that they had started the fire and were unable to extinguish it. If before the full-scale war they talked about the overhaul and excellent modernization that the «Moskva» had undergone, then after the sinking they began to say that the cruiser was outdated and of little value.

Meanwhile, the «Moskva» was only a successful debut in the Ukrainian hunt for the enemy’s naval forces. Soon, under the blows of Ukrainian missiles and drones, the russians lost control of the western part of the Black Sea and withdrew the main forces of their fleet from the temporarily occupied Sevastopol to the more remote Novorossiysk. But even there, russian ships are subjected to stinging attacks by Ukrainian air and naval drones.

Ukraine changed the rules of war at sea. Without a classic military fleet, it defeated a powerful enemy fleet.

In the second half of March, the intensity of the Russian invaders’ offensive actions increased. They tried to break through the defense of the Ukrainian troops in several strategic directions at once. However, despite the enormous pressure and the involvement of significant reserves, the Ukrainian soldiers managed to stop the enemy and inflict significant losses on him.

– I would like to emphasize that the successful repelling of the enemy’s massive assaults was made possible primarily thanks to the courage and resilience of each soldier who performs combat missions and maintains formation, - noted the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrsky.

In March, Russian losses reached a record high – more than 35 thousand Russian soldiers were killed or seriously wounded in a month. Each such defeat is confirmed by video. The vast majority of the enemy’s losses were provided by unmanned systems. As the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine emphasizes, for the fourth month in a row, the enemy's losses exceed the rate of replenishment of its troops.

Sea of fire instead of petrodollars

The Ukrainian defense forces have carried out complex high-precision strikes on Russia's oil refining and oil transportation infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. The facilities that provided financing for the aggressor's war machine have suffered critical damage. According to Western experts, as a result of the Ukrainian attacks, up to 40% of Russian oil exports have been damaged.

In particular, Ukrainian drones have hit one of the three largest Russian oil refineries in the city of Kirishi. This is not only a disruption of exports, but also a direct blow to the supply of fuel to Russian troops.

Oil refining and oil loading facilities in the Baltic ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk have also been hit. This is the main gateway for Russian exports to the Baltic Sea, from which Russia exported tens of millions of tons of crude oil and petroleum products every year.

In addition, Ukrainian drones hit the patrol icebreaker "Purga", which was being repaired at a shipyard. This is a hybrid military ship of the coast guard designed for operations in the cold waters of the north.

Located 900 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, the Baltic region has turned from a "safe hub" into a high-risk zone for Russia. Instead of oil super-profits, the Russians received a sea of fire and destroyed infrastructure. The Russian government was forced to ban gasoline exports until the end of July.

In total, during March, the Ukrainian Defense Forces hit 5 strategic enemy plants and 10 oil refining facilities with precision strikes.

New achievement of Ukrainian drones

For the first time in history, fighters of the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces shot down a Russian Alligator attack helicopter using a fiber-optic FPV drone "General Chereshnya". A drone worth 1 thousand dollars destroyed a modern attack helicopter worth 16 million dollars!

As the commander of the unit whose fighters shot down the helicopter said, it was quite difficult to do this, because an FPV drone does not have the same speed as an attack helicopter. Moreover, it was a fiber-optic drone, and fiber optics are more demanding in flight. It has a lower speed and in general, you need to be more meticulous in controlling these drones.

But the drone operators correctly oriented themselves where to expect a pair of enemy helicopters. They failed to hit the first one, but they managed to hit the second one. As a result of the emergency landing, the crew of the Russian helicopter tried to escape, but was discovered in time and eliminated by a drone strike.

Ukrainian soldiers demonstrate courage and high skill in defending their homeland. They call on foreign volunteers to join their ranks and are ready to share with them the most modern military experience.