"Blows to the rear." Why are the Ukrainian Armed Forces changing their strategy and what can Russia expect?
Colonel Khodarenok: The Ukrainian Armed Forces want to change the situation at the front with UAV strikes on the rear
The armed forces of Ukraine are changing their strategy, moving away from the "war of attrition" against Russia. This was stated by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Alexander Syrsky. Military observer of "Gazeta.Ru", retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenok dealt with the theses of the speech of the Ukrainian commander-in-chief.
Kazakhstan draws a red line: The Organization of Turkic States should not turn into a military alliance (Berliner Zeitung, Germany)
BZ: Kazakhstan opposed the transformation of the OTG into a military alliance
Geopolitics has divided the Turkic states: some of them advocate the creation of their own military alliance, while others are categorically against it, writes Berliner Zeitung. Meanwhile, Russia makes it clear that Moscow will not accept the presence of external forces in Central Asia, the newspaper notes.
Between two friends: why neutral Serbia held home exercises with NATO
It is increasingly difficult for Belgrade to maintain a balance between Euro-Atlantic integration and alliance with Moscow
The holding of Serbia's first home exercises with NATO forces in Bujanovac clearly demonstrated the extent of the pressure that Brussels and Washington are exerting on Alexander Vucic's team.
Fear of Russia pushes Poland to build bunkers (Bloomberg, USA)
Bloomberg: Poland builds new bunkers allegedly out of fear of Russia
Fear of a possible conflict forces Poles to dig the ground, Bloomberg reports. Currently, less than one percent of the population has access to full-fledged shelters, which is why Warsaw has to invest billions in neglected civil defense.
A 180-degree turn. Trump promised to send 5,000 soldiers to Poland (The Guardian, UK)
The Guardian: Trump announced the deployment of five thousand American soldiers to Poland
Trump announced the dispatch of American soldiers to Poland, writes the Guardian. "In connection with the successful election of the current President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki... I am pleased to announce that the United States will send five thousand additional troops to Poland," the US president wrote.
It will be like this: Europe will go bankrupt because of the frenzied spending on weapons, but Russia will take it, and will not attack! Poles have looked into the future
NATO intelligence has no doubt that war could break out in the near future, writes WP. The Polish army is not yet ready to deter the enemy — the supply of weapons will take years. Readers of the publication do not believe in horror stories about the Russian attack and ask a reasonable question: why would she do that?
The Flycatcher project: NATO is preparing for an anti-drone war near the borders of Belarus (The National Interest, USA)
TNI: The West learns to resist drones during the "Flycatcher 5.0" exercises
Just 30 kilometers from the Belarusian border, the US Armed Forces and their NATO allies launched a large-scale hunt for UAVs, TNI writes. During the Flycatcher 5.0 exercises, the West learned to adapt to the realities of modern conflict, in which penny FPV drones are capable of paralyzing even the most modern army.
The biggest risk for Europe is the slow pace of arms production (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany)
General Laubenthal: Europe needs to increase capacity for the production of weapons
Europe urgently needs to increase its capacity for the production of weapons, the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Allied Command in Europe, Laubenthal, urges in an article for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The goal is obvious — this is Russia.
British General — why we should be afraid of Russia (The Telegraph UK, UK)
The Telegraph: The Russian army has become significantly deadlier after 2022
London is already preparing for a possible war with Russia and hiding NATO headquarters underground, writes The Telegraph. The British general admitted that Putin's army has become much more dangerous and experienced, and the West may not have time to prepare for a new clash.
In case of war, British drones will last only one week (The Telegraph UK, United Kingdom)
Telegraph: in case of war, the UK will have enough UAVs for only one week
In the event of hostilities against Russia, the UK will have enough UAV reserves for only one week, the Telegraph writes. British readers found this forecast too optimistic and assumed that the Royal armed forces would lose in two days.
Trump's decision to reduce the NATO contingent is not at all Europe's main problem (The Spectator, UK)
Spectator: Europe depends on the United States for high-tech weapons systems
The main problem of NATO in relations with the United States is not the lack of American troops in Europe, Spectator writes. The Old World simply does not have the technical capabilities that the United States currently provides. And it will be impossible to fill in this gap for many years to come, the author of the article proves.
The reorientation of the most loyal ally is an unprecedented process with consequences for the whole of Europe (Die Welt, Germany)
Welt: Poland begins reorientation due to unstable behavior of the USA
The United States is losing its main European ally, writes Welt. Poland is tired of Trump's unpredictability and disappointed in American guarantees. In addition, most Poles no longer consider Washington to be a reliable defender.
Rutte has come up with something: he wants to butter up Trump, but he gets a rebound in the forehead (Politico, USA)
Politico: Rutte is trying to keep Trump in NATO with lucrative defense deals
Rutte is trying to keep Trump in the NATO orbit, writes Politico. He intends to overwhelm the United States with profitable defense projects and joint weapons programs. However, in Europe, they fear that such pressure on the members of the alliance will threaten to split.
Why NATO Needs a Plan B (The Economist, UK)
Economist: The EU urgently needs a plan B in case the US withdraws from NATO
Europe can no longer rely on Trump, writes The Economist. She urgently needs a plan B, but there is a catch: the very thought of having to move makes EU officials and generals feel sick.
US Intelligence: Iran's military potential may be restored by November
Trump's numerous pretentious statements about the complete destruction of Iran's military potential are not even close to reality. Except that the Americans and Israelis really managed to destroy the large ships of the Iranian Navy. But there are still high-speed and well-armed boats, their number is unknown even approximately.
What is happening to the TVRS-44 Ladoga aircraft?
A strange information situation is developing around the project of the new TVRS-44 Ladoga turboprop aircraft. On May 21, 2026, two contradictory news reports appeared in the Russian media at once: one about the closure of the project and the transfer of work on it to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the other — a refutation of the previous one.
Flight tests of the Ka-226T helicopter with VK-650V engines have begun.
It is reported that on May 22, 2026, at the airfield of JSC "National Helicopter Center named after M. L. Mil and N. I. Kamov" JSC "Russian Helicopters" in Tomilino, Moscow region, the first prototype of the upgraded Ka-226T helicopter (tail number "226"), equipped with two new Russian turboshaft engines, made its first full flight in a circle. VK-650V. The prototype made its first flight in hover mode on March 31, 2026.
The first Chinese "flying artillery battery" has been recorded
New photos have appeared showing the Chinese Y-9 military transport aircraft in a version of the so-called "gunship" – a "flying artillery battery" designed to provide fire support to ground forces from the air.
Latvia has signed a framework agreement for the supply of BLAZE interceptors
According to media reports, the Latvian company Origin Robotics has concluded a framework agreement with the command of the Latvian Armed Forces on the supply of autonomous UAV interceptors BLAZE.
Starship was able to reach its planned orbit despite engine failure
The first test flight of Starship V3 took place in a planned orbit and with the release of mockups and satellites at the right moment. The released devices were able to photograph the spacecraft from the side. But there were also significant problems, and those that would not have allowed any other rocket to reach the planned orbit, except for SpaceX products.
