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Ukraine isn't just burning Russia's oil — it's going after two refineries that keep Russian tanks moving and bombers flying. Energy analyst Mykhailo Honchar writes for EP that KINEF and YANOS are Russia's leading producers of specialized military oils and greases, without which armored vehicles, helicopters, and missile systems cannot function. |
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Rubio raised his voice at EU foreign policy chief — then denied anything happened. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to "step back" and handle Russia diplomacy herself after she pressed him over Washington's failure to increase pressure on Moscow at a G7 ministerial in France, Axios reported. |
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Ukraine hits Ust-Luga and Primorsk for the third time in five days — the pace suggests Kyiv is trying to destroy Russia's Baltic oil export ports beyond repair. NASA satellite data confirmed new fires at both ports; together they handle 2 million barrels of Russian crude exports daily. A drone also struck Severstal's blast furnace in Cherepovets on the same night. |
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Russian shadow war is escalating. NATO railways and sea cables are in the crosshairs.. Military supply chain hubs are especially vulnerable to deniable attacks. |
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Why is Russia asking its billionaires to fund a war its $190 billion defense budget should cover?. Kerimov pledged $1.2 billion. The Kremlin called it spontaneous. |
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EU fertilizer imports from Russia are up 14%. PepsiCo opened a Russian factory. The chips are still flowing. After five years of sanctions, new data shows Europe's ledger still tilts toward Moscow. |
Military
Ukraine strikes Yaroslavl key fuel hub for Russian army, targeting its 15 million-ton annual capacity. War moves beyond the frontline.
Intelligence and technology
Poland and Estonia are building Shahed killer Mark I at sustainable cost. Inspiration came from Kyiv. Shooting down a $20,000 Shahed with a $3 million Patriot is unsustainable.
Ukraine struck Russian explosives factory 1,000 kilometers from front with Flamingo cruise missile it built itself. The Chapayevsk plant supplied explosive fill for Russian munitions.
Russian satellites imaged US Diego Garcia, Prince Sultan Air Base, Al-Udeid, and Incirlik — days before Iranian strikes, says Zelenskyy. Speaking in Qatar, President Zelenskyy shared intelligence from his morning briefing.
International
Zelenskyy in Abu Dhabi: teams to finalize details on defense deal after UAE talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has agreed on security and defense cooperation with the UAE after meeting President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with Ukrainian military specialists already deployed in the country for several weeks ahead of the visit.
Finland to audit whether US is actually delivering NATO-bought weapons to Ukraine. "What has been promised to Ukraine must reach Ukraine" — Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen, announcing that Helsinki will audit US compliance with contracts under which European NATO members purchased weapons for Ukraine from American suppliers.
Humanitarian and social impact
Russian Shahed drones struck maternity hospital in Ukraine's Odesa. 80 people were inside facility at time of attack. Ten people were injured in the attack.
Read our earlier daily review here.
