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Articles by Daniel Kosoy
How Does Ukraine Stop Russia’s Deadly Jet Drones Flying at 600 KM/H?
By now, you may have heard of Russia’s Geran-4 and Geran-5, jet-powered drones capable of flying at around 600 km/h, roughly twice the speed of conventional Shaheds. Ukraine is building interceptors to catch them, but at those speeds, human reaction time is also becoming the limiting factor. Among the most prominent drones plaguing Ukraine’s rear are Russia’s Geran-4 and Geran-5, which are around twice as fast as gasoline-powered counterparts.
Ukraine Tests Low-Cost Recon Drones as Russian Interceptors Change the Economics of Aerial Surveillance
With cheap Russian interceptors saturating the front, Ukraine is developing lower-cost surveillance drones to keep eyes in the sky without relying on premium components. Somewhere in the Kyiv region, tucked deep into the bush, Brave1 held an event that would look strange to almost anyone outside Ukraine’s defense-tech scene. But for the people who build, test, and buy these systems, this is nothing out of the ordinary.
Palantir’s AI Vision Meets Its Strongest Test in Ukraine—Interview With CEO Alex Karp
Palantir is often considered controversial for bringing private AI close to war and state power. In Ukraine, it has found its clearest argument: software that can help a democracy survive a larger invading army. Technology is moving faster than many systems meant to regulate it. In Ukraine, the pace is even more intense. The battlefield has become an R&D environment for future warfare, where new tools are tested, adapted, destroyed, improved, and sent back into use at wartime speed.
How Ukraine Builds Its Ground Robots for the Kill Zone
Ukraine’s drone war is moving onto the ground, where UGVs are taking on supply runs, evacuations, mine clearing, and assault support inside the expanding kill zone. Imagine being a Russian contract soldier after moving for miles on foot through Ukraine’s contested kill zone, into a dugout, a basement, or whatever piece of occupied ground is still available. You settle into the position, waiting for orders, listening for artillery or drones overhead.
Ukraine’s Ground Robots Are Already in the Kill Zone
Across the frontline, unmanned ground vehicles, or UGVs, are taking on some of the most dangerous tasks in the war: moving supplies, evacuating wounded soldiers, clearing mines, supporting assaults, and operating in areas where infantry, pickups, and armored vehicles are constantly watched by reconnaissance drones and targeted by FPVs. We visited RoverTech, one of Ukraine’s leading UGV producers, to see how its ZMIY platforms are built, tested, and adapted for combat conditions.
The Sound He Thought Was a Tank Was a Skateboard—A Japanese Photographer’s Ukraine
At the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Japanese photographer Hironori Kodama entered the country at war expecting to document destruction. On the silent streets of Kharkiv, he also found teenagers on skateboards. Hironori Kodama, a Tokyo-based photojournalist and video journalist who has spent years documenting Russia’s war across Ukraine, from Donbas and Zaporizhzhia to Kherson. Yet, something unexpected has become part of that story.
They Survived Azovstal and Russian Captivity. Then They Found Each Other
Olha and Dmytro’s love story began alongside Ukraine’s darkest chapters: Mariupol, Azovstal, Olenivka, captivity. They’d only meet by chance after returning home. Dmytro and Olha lived through the same war before they ever met. Both served in Azov. He was an infantryman. She was a communications specialist. Both were in Mariupol when Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
“War Doesn’t Win Itself”: An Exclusive Look Inside Ukraine’s Transforming 51-Day Boot Camp
“People are afraid of the unknown,” says Mykhailo. His job is to turn civilians into soldiers in under two months. That training is now evolving—shifting toward more tech, simulators, and underground facilities to prepare recruits for drone warfare. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are in the midst of rebuilding their basic training system—an effort the General Staff sees as the most viable way to prepare recruits under wartime conditions, even if its effectiveness remains uncertain.
From FP-1 to FP-7: How Ukraine’s Drone and Missile Program Went Ballistic
Fire Point is one of the Ukrainian defense companies behind the FP-series strike drones and the FP-5 “Flamingo” cruise missile, systems used in long-range strikes against Russian military infrastructure. The company is now developing the FP-7 ballistic missile.
Inside the Launch of Ukraine’s FP-5 Flamingo Cruise Missile Strike Into Russia
Missile launches are fast, secretive operations where an extra person with a camera is usually the last thing anyone wants. Which is why we were surprised to receive exclusive access to witness the firing of Ukraine’s FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile. I didn’t expect to end up at a missile launch. Access to something like that is difficult for journalists to get, and for obvious reasons. In operations like these, reporters are usually more of a burden than any kind of help.
EXCLUSIVE: Ukraine Shocks Russia With Its Flamingo Missile
UNITED24 Media was granted exclusive access to document the preparation and launch of the domestically produced FP-5 “Flamingo” cruise missile. Filming inside the production facilities of Ukrainian defense company Fire Point, our team captured how the system is assembled, prepared for deployment, and readied for long-range strike missions. The footage offers a rare look inside Ukraine’s domestic missile and drone production as engineers and technicians prepare the weapon for operational use.
Assessing Russia's Military Budget: Economic Pressures and Future Sustainability
Russia’s wartime spending is running into a problem: how to maintain record levels of military output as hydrocarbon revenues decline, reserves are depleted, and the budget comes under growing strain. Year after year, Russia has pushed defense spending to levels not seen since the Cold War, even as revenue streams have steadily narrowed.
Transforming Air Defense: Ukraine’s Shift to High-Volume Interceptor Drones Against Mass Drone Assaults
Self-reliance has become the defining narrative for Ukraine’s sprouting defense industry. Foreign military aid played a key role in Ukraine’s early successes, but years of dependence on this aid exposed huge gaps in that framework, especially when coupled with stagnation in political will and slow bureaucratic processes. For a country under constant attack, air defense is critical—especially as Russia continues a sustained campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“Are You Ready to See This?” The Painful Work of Identifying Ukraine’s Fallen Soldiers
“Everyone has the right to a dignified life,” says Dr. Valerii Viun, Head of the Forensic Department. “But everyone also has the right to a dignified death.” For many, a story ends when the heart stops beating, and the soul is believed to leave the body for the afterlife.
Why Global Investors Are Pouring Millions Into Ukraine’s Combat-Tested Defense Tech
Nearly four years into the war, investment in Ukraine’s defense-tech ecosystem continues to rise, making it one of the few industries in the country experiencing growth. This raises a simple question for investors: why park your money in Ukraine? Data from Brave1, Ukraine’s government-run defense cluster, presents a clear line graph showing that roughly $5 million was invested in 2023, $59 million in 2024, and $105 million in 2025.
What Tech Will Define Warfare in 2026?
What Tech Will Define Warfare in 2026?
What Tech Will Define Warfare in 2026? Here’s What Insiders Say
Over the past four years, Ukraine’s defense industry has transitioned from relative obscurity to the forefront of modern warfare. Both Ukraine and Russia are now developing and countering new technologies at a pace measured in weeks, not months. At the same time, Russia continues daily strikes, infiltration tactics, and information pressure, forcing Ukraine to adapt just as quickly on the battlefield and beyond.
Ukraine’s Famed Flamingo Missile Maker Finally Speaks Out as Scrutiny Mounts. Here’s What We Know
At the height of its popularity, one of Ukraine’s fastest-growing and most secretive weapons manufacturers—Fire Point, known for successful long-range strikes, including the FP-1 drone and the pink-painted Flamingo missile—decides to set the record straight amid controversy and a growing rumor mill. In an undisclosed yet upscale venue in Kyiv, members of the press, military, and civil society gathered for something unprecedented: Fire Point’s first public press event.
Ukraine’s Famed Flamingo Missile Maker Finally Speaks Out as Scrutiny Mounts. Here’s What We Know
At the height of its popularity, one of Ukraine’s fastest-growing and most secretive weapons manufacturers—Fire Point, known for successful long-range strikes, including the FP-1 drone and the pink-painted Flamingo missile—decides to set the record straight amid controversy and a growing rumor mill. In an undisclosed yet upscale venue in Kyiv, members of the press, military, and civil society gathered for something unprecedented: Fire Point’s first public press event.
Ukraine 2026: The Strategies and Challenges That Could Decide the Fight Against Russia
While Russia outmatches Ukraine in military size and industrial weight, Ukraine’s resistance has endured for nearly four years thanks to the ability to stay technologically one step ahead, building tools that replace soldiers in the most dangerous places. That edge is now being challenged as Russia adapts faster and scales wider. Which technologies may define Ukraine’s fight next year?
Lockheed Delivers 750th HIMARS-Production Doubled to Keep Ukraine Supplied
Lockheed Martin has doubled production of the HIMARS launchers and delivered its 750th unit—a manufacturing surge will help supply sustained long-range firepower for Ukraine and US forces alike, the company said on November 6. US defense contractor Lockheed Martin announced that it has ramped up HIMARS production and delivered the 750th M142 launcher to a customer, after expanding factory capacity and adding new manufacturing technologies at its Camden facility.
Russian Tanks Are Falling Apart-Not From Ukrainian Fire, But Their Own Armor
Russian tank crews report severe mechanical issues caused by improvised add-on armor structures—known colloquially as “grills” or “mangals”—and a growing shortage of factory-made explosive reactive armor (ERA) modules, according to materials published by Russian military vehicle researcher Andrei Tarasenko on November 9.
Like a “Death Sentence”: 1,436 African Mercenaries From 36 Nations Fight-and Die-for Russia
At least 1,436 citizens from 36 African countries are fighting in the ranks of Russia’s invasion army in Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported on November 7. According to Sybiha, that figure includes only those positively identified, and the actual number may be higher. “According to available information, at least 1436 citizens from 36 African countries are currently fighting in the ranks of Russia’s invasion army in Ukraine.
After US New Sanctions, Russia’s Oil Discount Hits 12-Month Low
Russian crude oil is currently trading in Asian markets at its most significant discount relative to the Brent benchmark in one year. This pricing trend is a direct result of key Indian and Chinese refiners reducing their procurement volumes following the implementation of new United States sanctions targeting major Russian energy producers, according to Reuters on November 6, citing industry sources.
Trump Sanctions Target Over 50% of Russia’s Oil Exports, a Direct Blow to the Kremlin’s War Chest
US President Donald Trump has sanctioned Rosneft and Lukoil—Russia’s top oil giants—dealing what appears to be a major blow to their global operations. While the Kremlin downplays the move, early signs point to a very different story. Trump had three sanction strategies to choose from—ranging from moderate to severe—and opted for the middle path, US media reported.
A Group of 17 South Africans Tricked Into Fighting Russia’s War in Ukraine
Seventeen South African nationals were deceived into traveling to eastern Ukraine and compelled to take part in combat operations, according to a statement released by the South African government on November 6, as reported by Reuters. The men, aged between 20 and 39, had reportedly been promised lucrative employment before finding themselves in the Donbas region, Reuters reported.
Russia Uses Ukrainian Nuclear Plant to Entrench Troops and Vehicles, Photos Reveal
Russian forces have increased their deployment of armored vehicles and infantry positions within the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), according to images published on November 6 by the Telegram channel Skelety Shevchyka i Ko. The photos show at least four BTR-80 armored personnel carriers, weapon mounts, and fortified firing points inside plant facilities—equipment intended for combat operations rather than nuclear safety.
Over 144,000 Russian Families Seek Missing Soldiers Through Ukraine’s “Want to Find” Project
A total of 144,138 requests from relatives of Russian soldiers missing in action have been submitted to Ukraine’s Want to Find project, run by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. According to the Headquarters on November 4, this figure is significantly lower than the real number of missing Russian troops, as not all families reach out to the Ukrainian initiative.
How Russian Athletes With Military Ties Are Competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Despite promises of neutrality, Russia’s presence at the 2026 Winter Olympics is becoming increasingly political. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) set strict conditions: only individual athletes from Russia and Belarus can compete—under a neutral flag, with no teams allowed. Those who support the war or serve in the Russian army or security forces were supposed to be excluded. But will these rules hold?
“I Became the Firework”: One Canadian Fighter’s Harrowing Survival After a Russian Drone Strike in Ukraine
People from nearly every corner of the world have come to Ukraine to help. One of them is 23-year-old Canadian Mac Hughes. He arrived planning to stay a month, but the country and its people changed everything. First, he volunteered, then he fought. Now, even after being injured by a Russian Shahed drone, he’s still helping—and he has a message for the world. “Before, the only thing I knew about Ukraine was that there was a ‘Chornobyl’ map in Call of Duty,” says Mac.
How US Engines Ended Up Powering Russia’s Jet-Powered Shahed Drones
A Russian company tied to sanctioned oligarch Oleg Deripaska secretly bought American-made jet engines to study and replicate them for Moscow’s next generation of Shahed-style attack drones—revealing a clear link between US technology and Russia’s evolving drone warfare program.
Paris Court Rules Against Extraditing Businessman Kostiantyn Zhevago Amid NABU and SAPO Corruption Allegations
The Paris Court of Appeal has rejected the extradition request for Ukrainian entrepreneur and philanthropist Kostiantyn Zhevago, an action previously insisted upon by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). This was reported by Hromadske on October 29, citing Zhevago’s press service.
“We Must Move From Patrolling to Air Defense”: Lithuanian Speaker Calls to Shoot Down Russian, Belarusian Drones
The Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas , Juozas Olekas, stated that the Baltic nations must move beyond simply intercepting Russian aircraft and Belarusian drones, and should acquire the capability to shoot down violators. Olekas shared his perspective in an interview with Ukrinform on October 29. The speaker also called for considering stricter retaliatory measures against provocations originating from Belarus.
Ukraine Unveils Combat Jet Drone Concept at Global Summit in the Philippines
Ukraine has unveiled a concept model of its jet-powered unmanned aircraft, the Fighter Aircraft FA v1, during the Drone Warfare Summit held in Subic Bay, Philippines, according to Defence Blog on October 27. The three-day event, running from October 27 to 29, was the first of its kind in the Philippines and gathered defense officials, manufacturers, and military representatives from across the Indo-Pacific.
Ukrainian Paratroopers Rescue Wounded Comrade Under Fire After Russian Guided Bomb Attack
Ukrainian airborne troops released footage showing the evacuation of a wounded comrade from a frontline position hit by a Russian guided bomb, according to Telegram channel of Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces Command on October 28. The video, reportedly filmed by a foreign volunteer serving with the 25th Separate Airborne Brigade “Sicheslav,” captures Ukrainian soldiers advancing toward a damaged position, extracting their wounded comrade from debris, and retreating under continuous enemy fire.
Ukraine to Launch Global Arms Sales in November, Starting With Combat-Tested Drones
Ukraine will begin exporting domestically produced weapons next month under a newly established controlled export program, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced during a government meeting on October 28. The initiative marks the first time since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion that Ukraine will resume arms exports, focusing on equipment produced in surplus, such as naval drones.
Zelenskyy: Kyiv Using Storm Shadow and SCALP, but 95% of Long-Range Strikes Are Ukrainian-Made
Ukraine now conducts nearly all of its long-range precision strikes using domestically developed weapons, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a meeting with journalists on October 28. “From Europe’s long-range weapons, we use only Storm Shadow in normal quantities and a smaller number of SCALP missiles. We don’t have any other European long-range systems,” Zelenskyy said.
Brave1 Market Lets Ukrainian Troops Trade Combat Points for Unmanned Ground Vehicles
Ukraine’s defense tech ecosystem has taken another leap forward. Soldiers can now redeem combat points earned for destroying enemy targets for unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) through Brave1 Market platform, part of the “Army of Drones. Bonus” system. These robotic systems carry out some of the riskiest tasks on the battlefield—delivering ammunition, transporting supplies, and evacuating the wounded—reducing casualties among frontline personnel.
Vietnam Buys 40 Russian Su-35 Fighters in Covert $8 Billion Weapons Pact-With Oil Payments to Dodge Sanctions
Vietnam has significantly increased its military purchases from Russia despite US efforts to counter Moscow’s war economy—and has done so using concealed financial channels, according to an investigation by The New York Times on October 27. The probe, based on internal documents from Russian state exporter Rostec and interviews with officials from Vietnam, the US, and elsewhere, offers a rare view into how Vietnam’s willingness to buy Russian systems has quietly tipped its strategic alignment.
UK to Mass-Produce Ukrainian Octopus-100 Drones in Historic NATO-Backed Deal
Ukraine and the United Kingdom have signed an agreement to co-produce thousands of Octopus-100 interceptor drones under the “Build with Ukraine” initiative, according Army Recognition on October 27. The deal marks the first serial production of a Ukrainian combat drone within a NATO country, signaling a new stage in defense-industrial cooperation between Kyiv and London.
Ukraine Is Purchasing Swedish Gripen E Fighter Jets And Building Its Own Air Fleet Of 100-150 Aircraft
A memorandum of cooperation between Ukraine and Sweden signals a serious intent to form a fleet of the latest versions of Swedish Saab aircraft. For both countries, this marks an important step in collaboration and the strengthening of the European partnership. On the evening of October 22, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson made a joint statement: Ukraine is ordering 100–150 Gripen E fighter jets from Sweden, developed by the Swedish company Saab.
Why Would Handing the Whole Donetsk Region to Putin Be a Tragedy for Millions of People?
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians live in parts of the Donetsk region that remain under Ukrainian control. Vladimir Putin’s demand that these lands be handed over to Russia is an impossible term of any negotiation. Here’s why. In the spring of 2024, together with my team at UNITED24 Media, we spent the night in the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
Ukraine to Build Strategic Undersea Internet Link With Europe and Asia to Bypass Russia
Ukraine is set to take part in a major international undersea cable initiative that will boost its digital sovereignty and internet resilience. The Kardesa project, scheduled to begin construction in 2027, will lay a high-capacity digital cable system across the Black Sea, connecting Ukraine with Bulgaria, Turkey, and Georgia—and linking Europe with Asia while bypassing Russia.
“Only They Can End the War”: Kallas Backs Zelenskyy-Putin Talks Amid New EU Sanctions
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she expects the bloc to approve its 19th package of sanctions against Russia this week, DW reported on October 20 ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. The sanctions package aims to tighten pressure on Moscow’s energy and financial sectors and accelerate Europe’s move away from Russian fossil fuels.
Drones Set Major Russian Oil and Gas Facilities Ablaze in Overnight Strikes
Unmanned aerial vehicles targeted two of Russia’s key energy sites overnight—an oil refinery in Novokuybyshevsk, Samara region, and a gas processing plant in Orenburg—causing large fires at both facilities. According to Exilenova+, the Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery was hit for the fifth time since the start of the full-scale war and the fourth time this year. The strike took place in the early hours of October 19, igniting a massive blaze across several sections of the complex.
Zelenskyy: Ukraine Needs US Guarantees and Advanced Weapons to Deter Future Russian Attacks
On October 17, after his White House meeting with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs firm security guarantees from the United States to prevent future Russian aggression. “We need the US because only the US now speaks with Russia. Only President Trump has dialogue with Russia, and this is very important,” he told reporters.
Trump and Zelenskyy Discuss Tomahawks, Budapest Talks, and Russia-Alaska Tunnel Proposal at White House
A new high-level meeting between President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took place at the White House, focused on finding a path toward peace and ensuring Ukraine’s future security ahead of Trump’s upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest.
Trump Says US Interested in Ukrainian Drones During White House Meeting With Zelenskyy
On October 17, US President Donald Trump said he is interested in Ukrainian drones during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House in Washington, D.C. During the discussion, Zelenskyy suggested a possible exchange of Ukrainian drones for American Tomahawk missiles. “We have thousands of drones,” Zelenskyy said. “But we don’t have Tomahawks.” When asked by a reporter whether he would consider Ukrainian drones, Trump responded: “Yeah, we would,” he said.
Waiting for Western approval to strike Russia back cost Ukraine time and lives. The country built its own weapons, redefining how it fights the war
Not long ago, Ukraine’s offensive capabilities were limited—the weapons it received couldn’t be used against military targets inside Russia without outside approval, slowing the country down at critical moments. Now, having learned from that experience, Ukraine is relying on itself to take control of the war it didn’t start.
Biker Steps In to Save Disabled Ukrainian Combat Robot Near the Front Line, Video
A civilian in the front-line town of Kostyantynivka unexpectedly came to the aid of Ukrainian soldiers after their ground robot lost a track, the chief sergeant of the 4th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade’s UAV company, Volodymyr Illiushchenko, Ukrainian channel Army TV on October 16. Footage released by the channel shows a man on a bicycle stopping next to the disabled robot and immediately getting to work. 🥹 A Ukrainian man biking by stopped to help fix a ground drone.
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