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.
 

4 years ago, the Battle for Kyiv ended with the defeat and retreat of the russian troops.

From the first day of the russian invasion, February 24, 2022, it became obvious that one of the main goals of the russian troops was to capture the capital of Ukraine – the city of Kyiv.
Initially, the russians tried to capture Kyiv with a lightning strike over 2-3 days. They landed troops from helicopters at the Gostomel airfield, 10 km from Kyiv. And they intended to receive transport planes with troops there. But the defenders thwarted these plans by damaging the runway.

Then the russians tried to surround the Ukrainian capital. The invaders attacked the Ukrainian capital from three sides – from the northwest, from the northeast and from the east. Particularly fierce battles were fought on the northwestern outskirts of Kyiv, where the russians captured the satellite towns of the capital - Bucha, Vorzel and Gostomel. In the area of the village of Moshchun, they crossed the Irpin River and came very close to Kyiv. However, Ukrainian troops blew up a dam, which made it difficult for the invaders to cross, and then destroyed the russian bridgehead with artillery fire.

From the first days of the russian invasion, thousands of Kyivans took up arms and joined the Ukrainian army. With artillery and air strikes, and ambushes, the Ukrainians paralyzed many-kilometer columns of russian equipment. In the north-eastern direction, the Russian offensive was stopped near the city of Brovary, approximately 33 km from Kyiv, where Ukrainian artillerymen defeated a large column of russian equipment. In the eastern direction, russian columns got stuck, not reaching Kyiv, as Ukrainian troops paralyzed their fuel supply.

Unable to surround Kyiv, on March 21, the russians went on the defensive. Instead, Ukrainian troops, having increased their forces, went on the counteroffensive on March 22 and soon completely seized the initiative. Within a week, the russian defense collapsed.

On March 29, 2022, the russians announced their intention to “reduce military activity in the Kyiv direction”. This was an attempt to pass off their military defeat as a diplomatic “gesture of goodwill”, but in fact it marked a mass retreat, which under the blows of Ukrainian troops very soon turned into a flight.

On March 31, the Ukrainian Defense Forces liberated Bucha. But the joy of liberation was overshadowed by the facts of russian war crimes discovered here. It turned out that the russian invaders were mass killing civilians.

Meanwhile, russian troops began to retreat at a rate of 20–30 kilometers per day, dropping everything that hindered speed. Ukrainian artillerymen “helped” the russians to flee faster. Among other things, in the defeated russian columns they found a parade uniform in which the invaders intended to march along the main street of the Ukrainian capital. But the defenders of Kyiv put an end to these plans. On April 2, russian troops finally left the Kyiv region – Ukrainian troops reached the state border. The battle for Kyiv lasted 36 days and ended in a complete strategic failure of the russian “special military operation”. The occupiers lost thousands of pieces of equipment and the best airborne units. The Ukrainian capital remained free, and the world saw that the “second army of the world” praised by moscow propagandists could be defeated and not just retreat, but flee in panic.
 

March 26 is the Day of the fighters of the National Guard of Ukraine. This is a legendary formation, the basis of which was formed by Ukrainian volunteers.

The National Guard of Ukraine was created shortly after the proclamation of Independence of Ukraine in 1991. It was again created in the spring of 2014 in response to the hybrid russian aggression. The basis of the first combat units of the National Guard, which immediately joined the fight against russian aggression, were volunteer formations that emerged during the Revolution of Dignity. The National Guard battalions "Azov" and "Donbas" played an important role in the fight against russian proxy formations. The National Guard combines military and law enforcement functions.

In the winter of 2022, with the beginning of full-scale russian aggression, the fighters of the National Guard of Ukraine, together with the fighters of other units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, stood up to defend the independence of the state. In the first days of the war, the National Guard played an important role in the defense of the Gostomel airfield and thwarted the russians' plans to use it for the rapid capture of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. They heroically, until the last opportunity, defended the surrounded Mariupol…

In 2023, assault brigades were created within the National Guard to liberate the occupied Ukrainian territories and restore the Ukrainian constitutional order there. Subsequently, the combat units of the National Guard were united into two corps - "Azov" and "Khartiia". This year, the formation of unmanned systems regiments and a separate airspace cover regiment began within the National Guard regiments.

Along with Ukrainians, foreign volunteers also serve in the ranks of the National Guard of Ukraine. Recently, these units have distinguished themselves during counterattacks in the area of the cities of Dobropillya and Kupyansk. The fighters of "Azov" distinguished themselves by capturing 18 russian invaders in one day. And  "Khartiya" distinguished themselves in the battles for Kupyansk - encircling the russian group there and raising the Ukrainian flag over the city hall.

"Over 12 years, the National Guard of Ukraine has gone through a difficult path of formation, has been hardened in battles and has gained unique combat experience, – said the commander of the National Guard, Major General Oleksandr Pivnenko. – I am proud of every fighter and commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, who in extremely difficult conditions hold the line and do not allow the enemy to realize their intentions”.

Honor. Courage. Law – this is the motto of the National Guard of Ukraine. And the National Guardsmen prove their loyalty to this motto every day, showing their will and heroism for the sake of protecting the law and security of the Ukrainian state.

On March 25, employees of the Security Service of Ukraine (Ukrainian abbreviation SBU) celebrate their professional holiday. From the first days of the full-scale russian invasion, employees of the Ukrainian special services, like other defenders, stood up to defend the homeland. They identified and destroyed enemy agents, and soon transferred the war to the territory of the aggressor. Units of long-range drones of the SBU inflict devastating blows on military, military-industrial and oil refining facilities in the deep russian rear.

The most resonant operation of the SBU was Operation “Spiderweb” – a simultaneous impression of several dozen russian military aircraft. On June 1, 2025, four russian military airfields located in the deep rear, hundreds and even thousands of kilometers from the line of combat contact, were simultaneously attacked. The attack was carried out using remotely controlled drones, which were able to be delivered to enemy targets unnoticed.

The preparation of the special operation took place in conditions of maximum secrecy for almost a year and a half. First, the SBU implemented a complex logistical operation to bring hundreds of drones and eight launch cabins disguised as modular wooden houses to russian territory. The cabins were equipped with solar panels and batteries, and the drones with communication equipment, which made it possible to control them from the territory of Ukraine. The cargo was transported across the border using corrupt loopholes in russian customs.

The operation was coordinated in enemy territory by a married couple. Being from Ukraine, they had moved to russia a long time ago. Fluent in russian and with russian passports, they did not arouse suspicion. In one russian city, they created a logistics company, equipped a warehouse, hired drivers and quietly prepared the launch of the “Spiderweb”.

At the end of May, the trucks set off on different routes across russia. The drivers had no idea what they were carrying. And on June 1, the roofs of the cabs were opened remotely, and more than a hundred drones simultaneously rose into the air and struck four russian airfields. In an hour, operators from Ukraine were able to destroy or damage 41 russian military aircraft. In total, a third of russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers were hit. In addition, a warehouse of cruise missiles that were being prepared for launch at Ukrainian cities was destroyed at one of the airfields. The estimated value of the equipment hit as a result of Operation Spiderweb exceeds $7 billion.

After the attack, russian security forces put the Ukrainian agents’ spouses on the wanted list – but it was too late. They left Russia a few days before the end of the operation.

“In accordance with the laws and customs of war, we have worked out absolutely legitimate targets – military airfields and aircraft that bomb our peaceful cities,” the SBU leadership emphasized at the time.

Military experts from different countries called this Ukrainian operation “the aviation Pearl Harbor”, comparing it with the devastating Japanese attack on the American fleet in 1941 or even with the legendary Trojan Horse. Unique in its concept and implementation, Operation “Spiderweb” will certainly be included in the textbooks of military history and the work of special services.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated the employees of the Security Service of Ukraine on their professional holiday and noted that Ukrainians can be quite deservedly proud of their Security Service - truly combative, truly patriotic, truly effective.
 

The Ukrainian Defense Forces have foiled a russian strategic offensive operation that the enemy was preparing for March. This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The russians began preparing a major offensive operation at the end of last year. In turn, the Ukrainian Defense Forces conducted their own counteroffensive actions to prevent a large-scale russian offensive. As a result, the intensity of the Russian attacks was not at all as intense as their command had promised the russian political leadership.

According to the Ukrainian leader, now russia actually does not want to stop the war against Ukraine and conduct peace talks.

The invaders are stealing Ukrainian children

The UN International Commission has recognized the forced displacement and deportation of Ukrainian children by russia as crimes against humanity. The russians' unwillingness to return young Ukrainians to their homeland is a war crime. This is stated in a report presented to the UN Human Rights Council.

The international commission has recorded at least 1,205 cases of russian deportation of Ukrainian children from the occupied Ukrainian territories. More than 80% of the children are still under the control of the occupiers. They were placed with russian families or in children's shelters in various russian regions. Many parents and close relatives do not even know where their children are and whether they will ever be able to return home, UN investigators note.

Commenting on the situation, children's rights advocates emphasize that this is not just about the physical deportation of a child from the occupied territory. This is an attempt to tear Ukrainian children away from their family, from their native language and identity, and, ultimately, from Ukraine itself.

The report of the UN international commission emphasizes that russia is pursuing a coordinated state policy for which officials at various levels are responsible, in particular russian ruler putin. It is worth recalling that in 2023, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued arrest warrants for Russian ruler Putin on charges of illegally deporting Ukrainian children.

Ukraine defeated NATO during naval exercises

Ukrainian soldiers once again proved their high skills at international military exercises. At the NATO naval exercises REPMUS/Dynamic Messenger 2025, which took place in Portugal, Ukrainian sailors won all five combat scenarios. This is reported by the German publication Frankfurter Allgemeine https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ukraine/nato-manoever-vor-portugal-ukraine-versenkt-alliierte-fregatte-accg-200633625.html

NATO forces tested the protection of ports and convoys. The Ukrainian team used Magura V7 naval drones in various modifications: from reconnaissance to strike. During a simulated attack on a convoy, Ukrainian naval drones struck so many NATO frigates that in a real battle, it would have sunk. Moreover, even five minutes after the simulated defeat, the NATO ship’s crew continued to ask in the chat about the start of the attack, since they did not notice the approach of Ukrainian drones at all. As noted in the publication, NATO representatives called Ukraine’s participation a historic moment that forced the Alliance to reconsider its tactics of defense against drones. The results of the maneuvers showed that NATO troops are not sufficiently prepared for the threats of modern warfare at sea.

Magura naval drones have been repeatedly used against russian targets in the Black Sea and have inflicted significant losses on the enemy, not only at sea but also in the air. This is the world’s first naval unmanned platform to destroy an aircraft, helicopter, and warships.

And at the international cybersecurity exercises Defence Cyber Marvel 2026, which took place in Singapore, the Ukrainian Armed Forces team took second place. 36 teams – over 2,500 representatives from 29 countries – took part in these exercises. The participants practiced scenarios that simulated attacks on military control systems and segments of critical infrastructure. The Ukrainian side acted taking into account the practical experience of countering real russian cyberattacks. The practices developed by the cybersecurity units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine showed high applied value. Ukrainian soldiers consistently show a high level of training, demonstrate courage and skill in defending the homeland. They call on foreign volunteers to join their ranks and are ready to share with them the most modern military experience.
 

During the winter counteroffensive on the southern sector of the front, Ukrainian troops liberated 9 settlements and, in total, regained control over more than 400 square kilometers of territory.

During the advance, Ukrainian units reached the enemy’s rear positions 7-8 km from the line of combat clashes. As a result, Ukrainian soldiers managed to destroy two russian battalion commanders. Thanks to this, they managed to destabilize the management of the enemy units.

As we have already written, at the initial stage, the Ukrainian counteroffensive was facilitated by the fact that the russians had major communication problems after their Starlink system was turned off.

"The russian aggressor is numerically superior, but, given our active actions, is forced to postpone the dates of its planned operations, patch holes in its defenses and transfer troops from other directions," noted the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky.

During January-February 2026, the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck three large russian military enterprises, one of the key missile ranges and two large arsenals with long-range strikes. Details of the Ukrainian attack on the russian naval base of Novorossiysk on the Black Sea also became known. Among other things, there, Ukrainian drones hit two Russian frigates that were launching missiles at peaceful Ukrainian cities. Now these ships are out of action.

Drones are taking prisoners

During this winter, more than 100 Russian occupiers surrendered thanks to the work of Ukrainian drone units. This was reported by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov.

Drone operators find separate groups of occupiers, through loudspeakers mounted on drones they offer them to surrender, and then the drones accompany the prisoners to Ukrainian positions, showing the direction of movement.

One of the most resonant such cases occurred in January. An FPV drone of the Rubizh brigade recorded a dugout in which four russians were hiding and offered them to surrender. The occupiers decided to save their lives - they began to leave, following the commands of the Ukrainian military, who heard from the loudspeaker. At the same time, other Russians tried to destroy their own military and attacked them with drones. But two russians still managed to be captured alive. And in February 2026, fighters of the 158th separate mechanized brigade captured five russian occupiers using a drone and loudspeaker.

Ukrainian shares air defense experience

Ukraine has received 11 requests for security support from Iran's neighboring countries, European states, and the United States. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"Events in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region directly affect Europe — and, in particular, Ukraine — other parts of the world, the critically important supply to Ukraine, the security and well-being of our people," the Ukrainian head of state said.

Ukraine analyzed the prospects of the war in Iran and considered requests from states for security support from the Ukrainian side in countering Iranian Shahed drones and other similar challenges. After all, Russian invaders have been shelling Ukrainian cities with Iranian Shaheds or their Russian counterparts for several years. In view of this, Ukrainian expertise in protection against Shaheds is currently the largest in the world. Therefore, now Iran's neighboring countries, European states and America are very interested in Ukrainian experience - appropriate interceptors, electronic warfare systems, training.

"Ukraine is ready to respond positively to the requests of those who help us protect the lives of Ukrainians and the independence of Ukraine. We have already responded to some of the requests with specific support," Zelensky noted.

He noted that Ukraine has long offered partners to update and strengthen joint capabilities for protection against drones and missiles. It is also about destroying the relevant production facilities of the aggressor regimes. After all, the Iranian and russian regimes support each other. And now there is more and more information about the russian details in the Shaheeds, with which Iran strikes neighboring countries.
 

Ukraine successfully attacked a key russian missile production facility. Located more than 1,500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, the Votkinsk Plant is one of the most important russian manufacturers of missiles of various classes - from intercontinental to tactical.

As satellite images show, two workshops were hit, where the bodies were stamped and the missiles were assembled. According to analysts who analyzed the satellite images, the nature of the destruction and the configuration of the collapses indicate that the epicenter of the explosion was inside the building. The destruction of the workshops will slow down the production process of russian missiles for at least 3-6 months. After all, the workshops where the production of missile bodies was concentrated were hit.

It is important to note that Ukraine attacked the enemy's strategic missile plant with long-range Flamingo cruise missiles - a weapon of its own Ukrainian production. Earlier, with the help of these missiles, the Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed one of the arsenals of the main missile and artillery department of the russian defense ministry. The missile manufacturer presented a video of the Flamingo launches. The United States has not yet given Ukraine Tomahawk missiles. But the attack on the Votkinsk plant showed that Ukrainian Flamingos are not inferior to American Tomahawks.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky noted that all Flamingo missiles launched by the Ukrainian military reached and hit the target. According to him, this indicates the high quality and accuracy of the latest Ukrainian products. He also said that the russians are hunting for the production of Flamingo missiles, and because of russian attacks, Ukraine “had to wait a long time for the renovation of the production line.” But now missile production will increase.

Military experts call the strike by Ukrainian missiles on the russian plant unique in terms of range and accuracy of destruction. The probable deviation during the strike was no more than 10 meters! Experts also note that at the same time, the Ukrainian Flamingos were able to fly unnoticed over almost the entire European part of russia, without encountering russian missile defense systems. It is likely that the Flamingos flew at extremely low altitudes for a very significant distance across the territory of russia. Therefore, the russians did not actually see them.

In turn, representatives of the manufacturing company assure that this was not yet the maximum capabilities of the Flamingo. According to them, the missile is constantly being improved, in particular in terms of terrain navigation.

In addition, Ukrainian soldiers continue to destroy the enemy's oil refining and oil transportation infrastructure - both in the frontline zone and in the deep rear. The other day, a successful attack took place on Novorossiysk - the russian naval base and the largest oil terminal on the Black Sea. Warships, air defense systems, and the port's oil infrastructure were hit. Each such operation directly affects the logistics and ability of the Russians to wage war and receive petrodollar revenues to the budget.

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.
 

Four years ago, on February 24, 2022, russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For 4 years now, Ukrainians have been courageously defending their homeland. After all, the russian invaders are not just denying them the right to state sovereignty, but also questioning the very existence of the Ukrainian nation.

1

It should be noted right away that the russian aggression against Ukraine began not in February 2022, but 8 years earlier - in February 2014. Then a revolution took place in Ukraine, as a result of which the regime of pro-russian president Yanukovych was overthrown. Ukrainians sought to be an equal member of the European Union, not a vassal of russia.

Taking advantage of the imbalance of the state apparatus and security forces, the russians occupied and annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and soon began an undeclared war in the Ukrainian region of Donbas. This stage of russian aggression was called hybrid, because russia acted in Donbas mostly not directly, but with the help of proxy formations.

For a long time, russia tried to return the Donbas regions under its control to Ukraine on special conditions - so that they would have the right to veto important state decisions. Thus, moscow wanted to make Ukraine’s European integration impossible. When the russian ruler putin saw that he had failed, the russians resorted to full-scale aggression.

2

In russia, full-scale aggression against Ukraine was called and still is called a “special military operation”. At first, they even imprisoned those who called the war a war.

Indeed, the russian leaders planned to conduct a lightning military operation, during which they would capture the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and the largest Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Odessa. They wanted to overthrow the popularly elected Ukrainian government and establish a puppet regime. But the Ukrainians gave the invaders a worthy rebuff, and the russian plans for a lightning-fast special operation fell apart. The invaders suffered heavy losses, the russians retreated from Kiev and Kharkov, and never reached Odessa.

Unable to achieve an instant victory, putin and his henchmen unleashed a full-scale war. Hatred for Ukrainians has so clouded their minds that they do not consider their own losses. Since the end of World War II (1939-1945), this is the largest war in Europe, during which the russians have already lost more than 1.2 million soldiers.

Ukraine has not threatened russia in any way. However, putin and many of his subjects are irritated by the very fact of the existence of an independent state of Ukraine.

3

The entire russian policy towards Ukraine is a vivid example of blatant lies and vile meanness. Let us recall that in 1994 Russia gave guarantees of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, when the Ukrainians abandoned their nuclear potential. In 1997, russia officially recognized the inviolability of the borders, concluding a treaty of friendship and strategic partnership with Ukraine. The current russian ruler putin also initially assured that he recognized the internationally recognized borders… But all these assurances turned out to be a cynical lie.

The further, the more blatant this lie became. Starting the “special operation”, putin assured that he would not annex any more Ukrainian regions, except for Donbas. But a little more than six months passed – and putin announced the annexation of two more Ukrainian regions, which his soldiers did not even manage to completely occupy!

For many years, russian propagandists have been lying about the “brotherhood” of Ukrainians and russians. Trying to destroy Ukrainian statehood by shelling peaceful Ukrainian cities, the russians have proven that they understand this as nothing other than the brotherly attitude of Cain towards Abel.

4

Since the first days of the full-scale russian invasion, many foreign volunteers have been fighting the russian invasion side by side with Ukrainians. They have shown themselves to be true brothers and sisters of Ukrainians.

The russian aggression is so blatantly unjust and disgusting that thousands and thousands of foreign volunteers have joined the ranks of the Ukrainian army to fight for freedom and justice (in fact, some russians are even fighting on the side of Ukraine!). Currently, more than 10,000 foreign volunteers from 75 countries of the world are fighting in the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine alone. Every month, about 600 volunteers sign contracts and join the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Foreign volunteers also serve in the ranks of the Ukrainian National Guard of Ukraine and units of the Main Intelligence Directorate.

Over the past 4 years of war against a more numerous enemy, the Ukrainian army has become one of the strongest armies in the world. Ukrainian soldiers demonstrate courage and 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.

***

With this text, we begin a series of publications on the background of russian aggression against Ukraine and the main events of the russian-Ukrainian war. Follow the updates on our website.
 

Ukrainian troops liberated more than 200 square kilometers of territory from russian invaders during a 5-day counteroffensive. According to military experts, the Ukrainians successfully took advantage of the situation when russians had serious communication problems. Let us recall that first russians lost their Starlink satellite communication, and then russian authorities disconnected the Telegram social network, which is important for them, from their own soldiers. https://joinuarmy.org/en/all-news/the-russians-suffer/

Ukraine is increasing the use of ground drones

In January of this year, ground robotic complexes that are in service with the Ukrainian army performed more than 7 thousand combat and logistical missions on the front line. Ukraine is systematically scaling up the use of ground drones on the battlefield. These are no longer isolated cases, but the daily practice of units, comments on the situation by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov.

Now robots regularly enter high-risk areas: they evacuate the wounded, deliver ammunition, and provide logistics. These thousands of operations were previously performed by military personnel under fire, risking their lives. Now the risks to life are significantly lower, and the effectiveness of the units remains at the proper level.

This year, Ukrainian arms manufacturers plan to increase production and improve communication and control systems for ground robotic systems.

Ukraine is Europe's shield from russia's imperial encroachments

Now Ukraine is doing everything to stop the war, but the problem is that russian ruler putin wants something else. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this at the Munich Conference, an important security event that brought together leaders from about 50 countries this year.

According to the Ukrainian president, the russian ruler cannot imagine life without power. Putin dreams of russia's former imperial greatness and is not concerned with the problems of real people. The russian soldiers are paying a high price for their ruler’s aggressive delusions – about 30,000 people are killed and wounded every month.

Now the russian ruler’s attention is focused on Ukraine. But he will not let go of Europe either, because he cannot let go of the very idea of war. He may consider himself a tsar, but in reality putin is a slave of war. That is why Ukraine insists on reliable security guarantees. And not only for itself, but also for Europe. After all, russian imperialism poses a danger to the European Union as well.

European politicians should convey more clearly to their citizens that helping Ukraine is not charity, but in the interests of European countries themselves. This is what Robin Wagner, a member of the German parliament and head of the friendship group with Ukraine, says. In particular, the Germans need to be made to understand that Ukrainians are defending not only their own freedom and security with their lives, but also German freedom and security. Now European politicians say a lot of good words about Ukraine being Europe's first line of defense, but it would be more important if Europeans supported this line more.

Lesson from Ukrainian military stunned NATO military

The Ukrainian army, which has been repelling russian invasion for almost 4 years, is the strongest in Europe. And that is why Ukraine can become an important component of the European security system.
Last year, the Ukrainian military proved its high efficiency in modern warfare during joint exercises with the troops of NATO member states. According to the authoritative American newspaper The Wall Street Journal, a team of 10 Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers, acting as a hypothetical enemy, used drones to conventionally destroy 17 units of armored vehicles and carry out 30 strikes on other targets in half a day https://www.wsj.com/opinion/nato-has-seen-the-future-and-is-unprepared-887eaf0f. In a real war, this would mean the loss of combat capability of two battalions! At the same time, NATO troops could not even establish the location from where they were attacked, that is, they did not find the positions of Ukrainian fighters! This lesson stunned the military of the North Atlantic Alliance. The exercises showed that the troops of NATO countries involved in the exercises did not take into account how transparent the battlefield had become due to the use of drones.

The German Ministry of Defense has already decided to involve Ukrainian soldiers in training the German army in order to increase its combat readiness. The agreement on this was reached during the visit of the German Defense Minister to Ukraine, writes the authoritative German publication Spiegel https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/kriegserfahrene-ukrainer-sollen-bundeswehr-soldaten-trainieren-a-ac2ad80d-69b8-4991-9e89-86c41149a34b. According to representatives of the German command, currently no one in NATO has more combat experience than Ukraine, and the Germans should take advantage of this.
Ukrainian soldiers demonstrate courage and 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.
 

The russian troops that invaded Ukraine are suffering increasing losses. In January of this year, they lost 9,000 more soldiers killed and wounded than they were able to recruit to their army over the same period of time. This was reported by the leading American business information agency Bloomberg, citing sources in the authorities of Western countries. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-11/russian-war-losses-now-exceed-recruitment-western-officials-say

At the same time, despite heavy losses, the russians have not managed to achieve noticeable successes on the battlefield. Western military analysts attribute the increased combat effectiveness of the Ukrainian troops primarily to the improvement of its drones. As previously reported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, the russian army lost about 32 thousand soldiers killed and wounded in January.

It is worth noting that the russians are suffering losses not only in the combat zone. The other day, in the russian capital, moscow, the first deputy head of the main administration of the russian general staff, lieutenant general alekseev, was seriously wounded by gunfire. This high-ranking general has played an important role in the russian aggression against Ukraine since 2014. After 2022, he was accused of war crimes. He has also been under US sanctions since 2016 (for interference in the elections) and under EU sanctions since 2019 (for involvement in the poisoning). In 2024-2025, three russian generals who played an important role in the aggression against Ukraine died in moscow under various circumstances.

How russians are shooting themselves in the foot

It is not surprising that, given the disappointing news from the front and the increasingly worsening economic situation, the russian authorities have resorted to blocking the social networks WhatsApp, Telegram, and YouTube. In this way, moscow seeks to strengthen control over society and prevent the growth of protest sentiments. However, in reality, the russians have shot themselves in the foot. After all, the biggest problems due to this blocking have arisen in the russian military, who are fighting against Ukraine. They did not have time to recover after Elon Musk cut off their Starlink (we wrote about it here https://joinuarmy.org/en/all-news/the-collapse-of-russian-communications/), when their own authorities cut off their Telegram. And this social network, according to russian soldiers, played an important role in exchanging information and fighting against drones. Now they are asking their ruler in video messages to intervene in the situation and stop the blocking.

The intimidated russian society does not dare to protest, but only humbly asks the authorities and the ruler putin personally to return their messengers. Individual deputies of the russian parliament also expressed their disagreement, but the generally obedient russian parliament did not even dare to discuss this problem at its meeting.

Record aid to Ukraine

In 2026, Ukraine will receive $ 36 billion from partner states to strengthen its defense. This was announced by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine following the meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine. He noted that this is one of the largest budgets to support Ukraine.

Of this amount, more than $ 2.5 billion is provided for the production of Ukrainian drones, more than $ 2 billion for air defense, $ 500 million for the purchase of American weapons, as well as funds for artillery ammunition, personnel training, naval capabilities and other areas. A separate agreement is on the urgent delivery of anti-aircraft missiles to Patriot.

Among the largest donors are Great Britain, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark.

Ukraine and France deepen cooperation

The Ministers of Defense of Ukraine and France signed a Letter of Intent on joint production of weapons. This agreement paves the way for the implementation of large joint projects in the defense-industrial sector. The parties agreed on key priorities for defense cooperation. In addition, within the framework of the delegation meeting, the French side informed about the preparation for the transfer to Ukraine of additional Mirage aircraft and guided aerial bombs and long-range weapons. The parties paid special attention to the development of Ukraine's air defense.

Earlier, a similar agreement on cooperation in the defense-industrial sector was signed by the Ministers of Defense of Ukraine and Great Britain.

Moldova recognizes the merits of Ukrainians

Moldova's President Maia Sandu rejected the proposal for a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, emphasizing that the real heroes are Ukrainian prisoners of war and those who sacrifice themselves for peace in the region.

They wanted to nominate her "for her active role in protecting democracy, the rule of law and peace in the country." In response, Sandu thanked them, but noted that there are more worthy candidates for this high award, in particular those who really sacrifice themselves for peace and security. Thus, the head of Moldova recognizes that at the forefront of protecting democracy and the rule of law are Ukrainian soldiers who defend Europe from russian imperialism.

Foreign volunteers serving in the Ukrainian Defense Forces will receive temporary residency benefits and will have a series of social guarantees and expanded access to medical care. The President of Ukraine sanctioned the proposed law on February 9.

Until now, the only document a foreign volunteer in Ukraine had was a military identity card. However, some administrative companies required a residence permit. Now, foreigners who have a signed contract with the Ukrainian Defense Forces will receive a residence permit for the entire period of service and for three months after its termination or rescission of the contract. The process of issuing documents for their family members is also simplified.

With this benefit, foreigners will be covered by the same guarantees regarding medical care as Ukrainian citizens.

The law, which will come into effect in three months, is designed to ensure equal and fair conditions of service for all military personnel, regardless of citizenship. And in the future, the law is designed to better integrate those foreign volunteers who defended Ukraine from Russian aggression with weapons in their hands and decided to stay here.

Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine published an explanation of the algorithm for obtaining combatant status for foreign volunteers (UBD). https://mod.gov.ua/en/news/combatant-status-for-foreign-nationals-rights-and-granting-procedure

Foreigners who stood shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians in the ranks of the Defense Forces have the same rights to recognition of their merits as citizens of Ukraine. If a foreigner is serving under a contract in the Defense Forces of Ukraine and took direct part in hostilities, he/she has the full right to combatant status and appropriate social guarantees.

The same procedures apply to foreign military personnel as to citizens of Ukraine. The main condition is the availability of documents confirming the fact of performing combat missions. Your service and combat experience are the only criteria for granting status.

Currently, there are two ways to register a UBD: automatically or through a special commission. In the first case, an authorized person of the military unit enters data on the performance of combat missions into the Unified State Register of War Veterans within 5 days after the start of the task. The status is granted automatically.

If it is impossible to grant status automatically, the commander of the military unit submits a package of necessary documents for consideration by the Interdepartmental Commission (through the Ministry of Veterans), which considers the documents within 30 days and makes an appropriate decision. A foreigner also has the right to independently collect documents and send them to the Interdepartmental Commission - through the Ministry of Veterans or through the Center for the Provision of Administrative Services.

If documents are submitted for consideration by the Interdepartmental Commission by a military unit, the package must include:

• a copy of the passport with a translation into Ukrainian;

• a copy of the document certifying registration in the State Register of Individuals - Taxpayers;

• certificate (original) of form No. 6 according to (document confirming stay in the combat zone).

If the documents are submitted independently, an extract from the information and analytical system “Record of information on bringing a person to criminal liability and the presence of a criminal record” is attached to the package.

If you submit documents independently and add materials in a foreign language (for example, personal documents), they must have a certified translation into Ukrainian. It is important that the transliteration of the name and surname in military documents corresponds to your passport (or its official translation).

Obtaining the status of a combat participant is a good reason for further processing a permit for immigration to Ukraine or acquiring Ukrainian citizenship under a simplified procedure after the contract is completed, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine emphasizes.