Exclusives
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Russia's T-72AM is a very old tank with a fresh coat of paint. Expect it to stay parked like other tanks.. Aging T-72As were some of the last tanks Russian industry pulled out of storage for service in Ukraine. They're beginning to arrive. |
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Can "good morals" become a legal weapon in Ukraine's new Civil Code?. Brussels says reform is "necessary." It also says that quick answers to complex questions are always a problem. |
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Bulgaria approves new cabinet led by Rumen Radev — the ex-president who called Crimea Russian. Bulgaria's parliament greenlit a cabinet headed by Rumen Radev, a former president who called occupied Crimea Russian, by 124 votes to 70. |
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101 air defenses ring Russia's 9 May parade. A Ukrainian drone already got through.. A Fire Point FP-1 hit a Moscow apartment block 6 km from the Kremlin on Monday. RFE's Mark Krutov called it "quite routine." |
Military
9 May parade Russia held without single tank featured one thing Moscow has never shown before. This is who Russia is now.
Russian occupation troops fighting in Ukraine are inspired by WWII "generation of victors," says Putin at 9 May parade at Red Square. This year's parade had no columns of heavy military equipment. Since 2022, Russia has lost 11,894 tanks, 24,486 armored combat vehicles, 40,825 artillery systems, and 1,755 MLRS in Ukraine.
While Russia held its 9 May parade, Warsaw activists placed crosses and photos of killed Ukrainian children outside Russian Embassy. "We want to remind the whole world that Russia is a terrorist state waging a genocidal war in Ukraine, committing war crimes, and must be held accountable for this," said Euromaidan-Warsaw leader Natalia Panchenko.
Intelligence and technology
Russia is still receiving modernized T-90M, T-80BVM, and T-72B3M tanks. All of them are built on Soviet-era platforms. The much-hyped T-14 Armata, Russia's supposed next-generation tank, exists mostly in announcements. Serial production is effectively absent.
Russia planned major naval counteroffensive against Ukraine in 2026. Drones were built, but they can't be used. According to Defense Ministry advisor Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, that single decision collapsed Russia's entire unmanned naval campaign before it began.
Ukraine deploys AI-powered turret that can shoot down FPVs. Operator's only job is to press button to confirm strike. First combat use was recorded by soldiers of the K-2 Brigade. More than ten frontline units are already operating the system across key sectors.
300 defense factories, 500,000 workers: North Korea's arms industry reaches records amid Russia's demand for shells in war. North Korea claims current shell production has quadrupled compared to normal levels.
Russian Uragan MLRS can wipe out city block in 8.8 seconds. Ukraine just destroyed one of its loaders 40 km behind front. Russia learned in 2023 that keeping heavy equipment near the front line was a death sentence. So it moved everything 30–40 kilometers back. Ukraine's drones followed.
International
Cheap energy from Russia, cheap goods from China, and cheap security from America are all over. Europe needs its own defense alliance. Anders Fogh Rasmussen served as NATO's secretary general for 4 years. Now he says NATO is disintegrating — and Europe needs to build something new before it is too late.
Ukrainian cadets complete RAF flight training in UK — now moving to jet aircraft instruction. The graduation was marked by the presence of RAF Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth and Air Vice-Marshal Shorrocks, Commander of No. 22 Group.
Political and legal developments
Russia's "Great Victory" cult wasn't built in 1945 — it was constructed in 1965. Russian propaganda presents May 9 as a sacred, unbroken tradition stretching back to 1945.
Read our earlier daily review here.
