This is a Problem
Russia converted a civilian factory into a long-range drone factory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc3CNMEJ_vs
Tag: Eastern Europe
Russia’s increasing use of chemical weapons in Ukraine ‘unbearable,’ says top EU diplomat
“Russia is increasingly using chemical weapons in Ukraine in an effort to subdue the country by causing as much pain and suffering as possible, Europe’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said Tuesday.
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Most countries around the world, including Russia, have signed a 1993 international convention banning the use, production, development or stockpiling of chemical weapons. Russia is one of 65 countries to have not only signed the Chemical Weapons Convention, but also ratified it.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-increasing-use-chemical-weapons-ukraine-unbearable-says-top-eu-diplomat-kaja-kallas/
How Europe found a workaround to get Trump to help Ukraine
“European leaders knew it would be much easier for Trump — who sees global politics, from trade to NATO, largely as zero-sum financial transactions — to agree to supply arms for Ukraine if the Europeans bought them, allowing the U.S. to swing a profit.
But they were also aware of Trump’s reluctance to abandon the isolationist wing of his MAGA movement by taking a more active role in defending Ukraine and directly confronting Putin. By providing American weapons themselves, the Europeans are providing Trump with cover to act.”
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“France, whose President Emmanuel Macron has long pushed for Europeans to build up their own defense industrial base by buying locally, was a notable omission from the list.
Paris will not join the initiative to buy U.S. weapons for that reason, according to two French officials with knowledge of the issue. The French government is also struggling to boost its own defense spending as it tries to make budget cuts and rein in its staggering deficit.
But given Europe’s limited manufacturing capacity, Merz’s government believes buying American is one of the only ways to swiftly supply Ukraine with the weapons it needs.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-donald-trump-weapons-aid-war-in-ukraine-nato/
‘We’re not buying it’: Trump ties Ukraine aid to America First
“Trump on Monday went further than he ever has in helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia, greenlighting a European purchase of Patriot missile defense systems and other weapons for Ukraine.
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Even as Trump wants to up the pressure on Moscow, bucking the isolationist wing of the MAGA movement, he is insisting that this latest move aligns with his “America First” strategy and fits into a decades-long view that America has been ripped off by allies and that Europe, in particular, has gotten a free ride on defense.
Trump, during an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday, exaggerated how much money the U.S. has already spent on aid to Ukraine and emphasized that Europeans would finally pay their fair share.”
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/14/trumps-ukraine-aid-fits-america-first-00452809
Russian Power in the Caucasus is Collapsing. Azerbaijan is Just the Start.
Russian Power in the Caucasus is Collapsing. Azerbaijan is Just the Start.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGuNQq9wD1Q
Interceptor Drones & The War in Ukraine – Affordable Air Defence & Russian Strategic Bombing
Interceptor Drones & The War in Ukraine – Affordable Air Defence & Russian Strategic Bombing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4bHc4X5Ilw
Trump’s Big Ukraine Deal
Trump getting fed up with good calls with Putin where Putin says he is working toward peace and then turns around and attacks civilians. Trump is selling weapons to NATO who will give them to Ukraine, and says Putin has 50 days to end the war or 100% tariffs will go on countries buying from Russia, like India and China.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR554Exl1eY
Romania faces reckoning with Brussels over soaring budget deficit
Romania faces reckoning with Brussels over soaring budget deficit
https://www.politico.eu/article/romania-reckoning-brussels-soaring-budget-deficit/
Ukraine Strikes Russia’s Bombers – The Operation, Damage & Lessons of Ukraine’s “Bear” Hunt
Ukraine Strikes Russia’s Bombers – The Operation, Damage & Lessons of Ukraine’s “Bear” Hunt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPXs2wDv4Kc
How Ukraine is revamping frontline fortifications to stem Russian advances
“Russia’s changing attack tactics are forcing Ukraine to adapt by making shorter defense lines and building low-rise strongpoints less visible to drones swarming the skies.
But the revamp is undermined by a chaotic approach to fortifying front lines, with very different approaches being used depending on local commanders. Tougher defense positions are also made much less effective by Ukraine’s chronic shortage of combat troops.
The change in fortification strategy is being driven by Russia dropping large formation attacks supported by armored vehicles in favor of much smaller units backed by drones, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said last week.
Ukraine is responding by building fortifications for ever smaller units — from battalions of about 500 troops to companies of about 100, and now for platoons of 20 to 50 soldiers.
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Previously, strong points used extensive trench networks from 2 to 5 kilometers in length. The new system uses smaller strongpoints with trench networks 60 to 70 meters long and equipped with mandatory anti-drone cover. “These are harder to detect and are effective in carrying out tasks of defense, deterrence, and delivering firepower, including against FPV drones,” Umerov said.
Behind that frontline defense, Ukraine is continuing to build two additional lines that include concrete tetrahedrons, also called dragon’s teeth, to hold off armored vehicles, minefields, foxholes, wooden and concrete trenches, anti-drone covers and nets.
“Fortification is not just about concrete and trenches — it is an adaptive engineering system that takes the enemy’s tactics into account and always serves one purpose: protecting our warriors. We monitor the process daily and reinforce the areas where it’s needed most,” Umerov said.
Earlier, fortifications were often built in open terrain to block Russian attacks using large numbers of armored vehicles. Now, they are built around forest belts, which have better camouflage.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-russia-drone-fortifications-frontline-defense/