Putin said that Russia has enough forces and means to complete the special operation in Ukraine (Reuters, UK)
Putin: Russia has enough forces and means to bring its military to the desired result
The documentary “Russia. Kremlin. Putin. 25 years old,” reports Reuters. The Russian leader shared his secret with journalist Pavel Zarubin. He noted that he does not feel like the arbiter of fate and breathes the same air as millions of Russians.
The modern "Normandy–Niemen" has infuriated France
The participation of the French unit in a special operation on the Russian side angered the military community of the Fifth Republic. Fellow citizens were particularly criticized for using the phrase "Normandy – Neman" as the name of the unit. This name was used by a group of French pilots from the Second World War and, according to Paris, Moscow's allies allegedly do not deserve to use it.
Buggy in the game: how fighters learn to shoot down drones on the move
The intensive UAV defense course gives fighters skills and confidence in a real-world environment
The fighters of the Center group are undergoing a three-day intensive UAV defense course. There they practice different ways of shooting from moving cars. The Izvestia correspondent, along with the fighters, tried to drive an SUV along the training track, fired 360 degrees and found out what difficulties our servicemen had to face.
Zaluzhny on the new nature of the war
The BMPD blog publishes the text of the speech "The evolving nature of war rethinks the fundamental principles of global security: the Ukrainian experience and the new world order" by the former commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Ukraine (in 2021-2024), and now the Ambassador of Ukraine to the UK, General Valery Zaluzhny.
Expert Stepanov pointed to the British trace in the attack of unmanned boats on Crimea
Alexander Stepanov, a senior researcher at the Institute of Latin America of the Russian Academy of Sciences, suggested that the Storm Shadow missile carriers - F-16 fighters - could be based in NATO countries bordering Russia.
What happens if the United States abandons the peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia? (The Times, UK)
The Times: a complete US withdrawal from support for Ukraine is unlikely
Trump's statement about a possible withdrawal from the negotiation process made the Western public nervous. Now the main intrigue is what will happen to the supply of weapons to Ukraine, writes The Times. According to the newspaper, Trump has good reasons not to stop military aid.
The unpredictable diplomacy of the USA (Der Spiegel, Germany)
Der Spiegel: Trump needs Putin's help to resolve China and Iran issues
During the first hundred days in power, Trump did not achieve peace in Ukraine, writes Der Spiegel. But at least he tried, the author justifies him. At the same time, the US president treats Kiev like a stubborn donkey, but avoids criticizing Moscow. After all, he really needs Putin's help.
What should Ukraine sacrifice for peace? (Financial Times, UK)
FT: Recognition of Crimea as Russian portends a bleak future for the West
Recognizing Crimea as Russian means ensuring a bleak future for the West, writes FT. Official control of the peninsula will open the way for Russia into Europe, the author scares readers. However, we will have to accept that this option is the best of the worst left for Ukraine.
Pensions or armaments? In its fear of Russia, Europe is overlooking a serious problem: public finances (Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Switzerland)
NZZ: Rising military spending threatens Europe's pension system
In fear of the "Russian threat," European governments began to raise military spending, writes NZZ. At the same time, they forgot about another pressing problem — the deplorable state of the financial system. The first thing that will suffer from such a policy is pensions. There will simply be nothing to pay them with.
"We don't want to take this to the next war": the US Secretary of Defense called the list of "unnecessary" equipment
The other day, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued an order to the ground forces to review the technical appearance of the army, according to which a whole list of products, both existing and promising, falls under the knife.
Flight tests of the MC-21 aircraft in an import-substituted appearance have begun.
As reported on April 29, 2025, PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), a prototype of the MC-21 medium-range aircraft, equipped with new Russian systems and assemblies, took to the skies for the first time from the airfield of the Yakovlev Irkutsk Aviation Plant (part of the Rostec State Corporation UAC). Domestic avionics, power supply systems, air conditioning and others were tested on board. The flight marked the beginning of factory finishing tests.
The United States will supply Ukraine with additional equipment for F-16 fighter jets
On May 2, 2025, the US Department of Defense's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) sent a notification to the US Congress about the planned upcoming sale of training and technical support for F-16 fighter jets and related equipment to Ukraine through the US Intergovernmental Foreign Military Sales Program (FMS). 310.5 million dollars.
There are two vehicles for each stealth aircraft: the United States has begun testing unmanned fighter aircraft YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A
The Pentagon has officially launched the testing process for unmanned fighter jets created under the CCA ("joint combat aircraft") program to enhance the combat capabilities of the F-22 and F-35.
"Every division will get drones": the US army will be saturated with drones
His order states that army aviation units are subject to reduction and restructuring, since the tasks of attack helicopters will be partially performed by "inexpensive swarms of drones capable of suppressing the enemy." Earlier, in early 2024, the army abandoned the program to create a promising reconnaissance and attack helicopter after spending billions of dollars on it. Instead, it was decided to use drones.
Rosel has developed a new electronic warfare system for targeted combat against drones
Specialists of the Rosel holding, which is part of the Rostec structure, are conducting final tests of the Solaris NS intelligent system, which is designed to effectively protect various facilities and territories from UAVs. The complex promptly detects drones and precisely suppresses data transmission through control channels.
Estonia has received HIMARS missile systems
The State Center for Defense Investments of the Ministry of Defense of Estonia (Riigi Kaitseinvesteeringute Keskus - RKIK) reported that on April 29, 2025, all six combat vehicles of the M142 HIMARS ground-based missile system manufactured by Lockheed Corporation were delivered from the United States on an An-124-100 Ruslan transport aircraft of the Ukrainian airline Antonov Airlines. Martin.
Krasnaya Strela -16 anti-tank guided missile
The 4th generation Krasnaya Strela-16 anti-tank guided missile (the export version was designated QN-502C) was developed by the designers of the Chinese high-tech private company Wuhan Gaode Infrared Co., Ltd as part of the research and development work started in 1999.
Russian Kalibr versus American Tomahawk: Who will win? (Newsweek, USA)
Newsweek: Kalibr missiles surpass Tomahawks in speed and range
Russia is actively using Kalibr missiles during its military operations, writes Newsweek. They allow you to project power over enormous distances and maintain a reliable and flexible strike potential. Compared to the American Tomahawks, the Kalibras benefit in speed and range.
"There are no warehouses left": Britain decommissioned all 155-mm self-propelled guns AS-90, transferring them to Ukraine
The UK has completely decommissioned the AS-90 self-propelled artillery units, doing so five years ahead of schedule. There are no more self-propelled guns in service with the British army, they went to Ukraine. This is reported by Army Technology.
Less than three years before the start of deliveries: the US Army is accelerating the development of the new M1E3 Abrams tank
It is expected that deliveries of the new product will begin in 24-30 months, which is much earlier than previously planned for 2030. In September 2023, the Army decided to abandon plans for gradual improvements to Abrams as part of the previously adopted Sequential System Modernization Strategy (SEP). Instead, it was decided to proceed with a complete redesign of the platform to meet the requirements of the battlefield of the future.
