Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1222: F-16 pilot killed during Russia’s record 537-projectile night attack

Exclusives

Ukraine's new drone commander has one mission: hunt Russia's drone crews. The head of Ukraine's drone force has declared all-out war on Russia's own drone teams.

Why can't Ukraine stop Russia's Shahed drones anymore?. The same mobile teams that hunted Shaheds last year can barely touch them now.

Military

Frontline report: Colombian fighters join Ukraine to dig Russians out of trenches in a brutal forest fight. Colombian fighters stormed a Russian trench network near Ukraine's border, clearing bunkers with drone support, grenades, and close-quarters combat. Russia's bomber base goes dark after Ukraine hits power infrastructure. Infrastructure strikes multiply effectiveness beyond immediate damage. Russia's 1060th Logistics Center erupts in fire after Ukraine's Defense Intelligence operation. The former 120th Arsenal goes up in smoke, as Ukrainian forces dismantle Russia's ability to wage war. Poland scrambles jets as Russia launches record 537-projectile attack on Ukraine. Poland's air defenses remained on high alert until after 6 AM with no airspace violations reported. F-16 pilot killed while repelling Russia's most massive-yet night terror attack on Ukraine (updated). "Eternal flight, brother, you did everything you could!" the Air Force said.

Intelligence and Technology

Moscow recruits African women to produce drones in horrific conditions — investigation exposes large-scale fraud. Russia is expanding the production of drones in Tatarstan, using African and Asian women who are deceived into taking dangerous jobs in the Alabuga special economic zone. YLE: Dubai quietly powers Putin's planes—with help from US and European parts. Dubai-based firms smuggle Boeing and Airbus components worth €1 billion to keep Russia's stolen aircraft fleet operational. YLE: Russia expands factory producing bombers Ukraine just destroyed in Operation Spiderweb. New hangars won't fix sanctions blocking Western components or workforce shortages hampering assembly lines.

International

Kremlin says it will not end war in Ukraine, even if EU imposes new round of sanctions. Peskov claims Russia won't respond to pressure. China may soon build large-scale facilities in Russia‑occupied Crimea. Nearly, $10 billion in Chinese capital could cement Beijing's role in Moscow's war machine. Georgia denies military honors to Ukraine war volunteer in unprecedented snub. Defense Ministry silent on unprecedented departure from military tradition. Bild: Germany's Ukraine aid promise math doesn't add up as € 900 million missing from actual budget. Ministry officials justify the massive shortfall by insisting European funding mechanisms, such as European Peace Facility, will save face, though they provide zero guarantees these external sources will actually deliver. NATO allies conduct major river crossing joint exercise in Germany as Russian security threat persists. German, British, Dutch and Italian forces are constructing ferry systems to transport 1,200 soldiers and 500 units of heavy equipment across the Rhine river.

Humanitarian and Social Impact

Kyiv accuses Russia of supplying Bangladesh with wheat mixed with grain, stolen from occupied territories. The Ukrainian government plans to call on the European Union to intervene. "Chinese citizens should know they are being lied to," Russian POW reveals Kremlin's foreign fighter scam. Foreign recruits promised rear positions find death in Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast trenches. Russia planned Russification of Ukrainian children after swift victory—now, it uses them to pressure Kyiv into concessions. Yale reports Russia has stolen 35,000 Ukrainian kids and forced them to sing the Russian anthem under a threat to their parents. Read our earlier daily review here