TL;DR
Ukraine’s defense minister resigned amid internal tensions, while Kyiv ramps up drone production and strikes deep into Russian territory. Meanwhile, Europe and Ukraine team up on a new anti-ballistic shield, and Russia’s military struggles with fuel shortages and morale issues.
Key Stories
- Ukraine’s defense minister steps down amid leadership shakeup — Mykhailo Fedorov resigned as Ukraine’s defense minister after reports of conflicts with military leadership. President Zelensky is set to appoint Ihor Klymenko as his replacement, though protests are planned over the decision.
- Ukraine and Europe launch joint anti-ballistic shield project — Ukraine and European nations kicked off the FREYJA project to build a shared anti-ballistic defense system. The initiative aims to integrate European capabilities and protect skies over participating nations.
- Ukraine’s drones strike deep into Russia, sinking ships and hitting refineries — Ukrainian maritime drones hit 20 Russian vessels in the Black Sea, while FPV drones destroyed a $19 million Russian helicopter. Strikes also targeted oil refineries and power plants in occupied Crimea.
- Russia’s military faces fuel shortages and brutal discipline — Videos show Russian commanders punishing troops over fuel shortages, while Ukraine’s drone dominance expands the battlefield’s "death zone" to 40 km deep, making traditional tank maneuvers nearly impossible.
- Putin revives Soviet-style travel restrictions for Russians — Russia is reportedly bringing back exit visas, requiring citizens to travel in pre-approved groups of at least 10 to "unfriendly" Western countries. The move mirrors Stalin-era restrictions to prevent defections.