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Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
Ukraine Receives SkyNode S Kits To Counter Russian Drone Supremacy
For the past three years, the Russia-Ukraine war has been defined by drone and counter-drone technologies, with the side deploying superior systems gaining a tactical edge on the battlefield. Over this timeframe, the battle for drone supremacy has settled into a stalemate as both sides employed advanced electronic warfare systems that limited their opponent's ability to conduct drone operations. According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russia has now broken this deadlock by fielding new drone technologies that are less vulnerable to electronic warfare. As Russia uses this advantage to secure tactical gains, Ukraine is responding by increasing AI integration into its drones, particularly those designed for counter-drone missions. This effort recently received a significant boost through an initiative by the United States to supply Ukraine with 33,000 SkyNode S drone kits. SkyNode S Drone Kits The SkyNode S drone kits are part of a $50 million contract awarded to Auterion, an American and German defense company. The system enables onboard neural networks and real-time image processing for target recognition, tracking, and vision-based navigation, while reducing dependence on GPS and external control signals. The SkyNode S module reportedly allows a drone to track moving targets at distances of up to 1 km, with a 90 percent probability of hitting its target, even when jammed. Each strike kit is a compact onboard mission computer that integrates advanced AI and computer vision into small drones. The system consists of only a circuit board with a heatsink, measuring roughly 49 × 39 × 21 mm and weighing about 38 g, with support for up to eight motors or servos. Its small size and general versatility make it adaptable to a wide range of Ukrainian drones, from FPV quadcopters to mid-sized fixed-wing UAVs. These systems will enhance Ukraine's ability to deploy AI-powered capabilities across its drone fleet, with the initial focus on countering the threat from Russian strike drones. Deliveries are expected to be completed by the end of 2025, underscoring Washington's urgency to equip Kyiv against Russia's expanding drone and electronic warfare capabilities. The Impact Of The SkyNode S Kits On the Russia-Ukraine Battlefield The Institute for the Study of War stated that the Russian drone technology has recently made large advances, giving Russia a distinct tactical advantage during its summer offensive. These advances include the increasing use of fiber-optic drones and the incorporation of limited AI into their drone control software. The report notes that Russia has gained the ability to conduct 'battlefield air interdiction,' a capability it had not demonstrated thus far in the war. Russian forces can now effectively strike the roads, railways, and bridges used for logistical resupply, as well as supply depots, command posts, and troop assembly areas. The goal of targeting these sites in the near rear of the frontline is to disrupt Ukrainian defenses in the short term, creating openings for Russian assaults. Across the front, Russian forces, empowered by their drones, are making territorial gains. Russian drones now fully control several key highways used to resupply soldiers around Pokrovsk, enabling major advances in the area after months of grinding assaults. Around Lyman and Siversk, new Russian fiber optic drones are attacking Ukrainian elements, allowing Russia to make further gains there. In the Sumy Oblast, drones equipped with thermobaric warheads have been used to destroy Ukrainian trenches and defensive positions. The Russian military has also employed drones to locate training areas, recruitment centers, and defense factories in towns near the front lines, which are then destroyed with missile strikes and artillery. Ukraine is in a position where it must rapidly develop and field new kinetic systems that are capable of stopping Russian drones. While Ukraine is currently deploying new counter-drone rifle rounds to neutralize smaller, low-flying drones, it also needs methods to counter the larger, faster models. The SkyNode S will play a central role in this effort. Ukraine can integrate the module into many of its existing drones and program them to track and destroy incoming Russian strike drones detected up to one kilometer away. Even if the Russian drones employ jamming systems or other countermeasures, the SkyNode S will allow the hunting drone to remain effective. Ukraine's high-speed drone production, combined with the rapid acquisition of these modules, will enable it to field solutions quickly. In a broader strategy, Ukraine could integrate the SkyNode S kits into its own strike drones. This would allow Ukrainian forces to break through Russian electronic warfare systems and achieve its own battlefield air interdiction. They could then target Russian supply chains, command posts, and troop concentrations, disrupting the current Russian offensive. The SkyNode S would not only help erode Russia's current drone advantage but could also enable Ukraine to achieve drone dominance and the tactical gains that come with it. This advantage would likely last only until Russia responds with the next iteration of its technology, as the battle for drone supremacy continues.
LBCI
01-08-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Russian advance in Ukraine accelerates for fourth straight month: AFP analysing ISW data
Russia's military advance in Ukraine accelerated for a fourth straight month in July, its greatest since November, according to AFP's analysis of data from the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW). In one month, the Russian army took 713 square kilometres (275 square miles) of Ukrainian territory, while the Ukrainians reclaimed 79 square kilometres. This has resulted in a net gain of 634 square kilometres compared with 588 square kilometres in June, 507 square kilometres in May, 379 square kilometres in April, and 240 square kilometres in March. These figures include territories fully or partially controlled by Russia and those claimed by it. AFP
Telegraph
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Russia's advance in Ukraine accelerates for fourth straight month
Russia has accelerated its gains across the front lines in Ukraine for the fourth consecutive month, new analysis has shown. In one month, Vladimir Putin's invasion force captured 275 square miles of Ukrainian territory, compared to the 30 square miles reclaimed by Kyiv's troops, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said. Moscow had made net gains of 195 square miles last month, 146 square miles in April and 92 square miles in March. In recent days, Russia has claimed to have captured the town of Chasiv Yar, in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. Kyiv disputes the claim. Russian forces have created at least four growing salients in the Donetsk region as they look to envelop the key logistics hub of Pokrovsk and capture the garrison towns of Kostiantynivka. It comes as Donald Trump presses Vladimir Putin to end the war, threatening Russia with sanctions and tariffs on energy exports. On Friday, he said Russia had lost 112,500 soldiers since the beginning of the year, while Ukraine had lost some 8,000, not including those who are still missing. 'Ukraine has also lost civilians, but in smaller numbers, as Russian rockets crash into Kyiv and other Ukrainian locales,' he said. While the situation is becoming increasingly perilous for Ukraine, the front line is not at risk of a complete collapse, Michael Kofman, of the Carnegie Endowment, a US think tank, said after a recent trip to the country. Russian forces have been able to capitalise on improvements to the deployment of drones, whittling away the Ukrainian advantage, which had helped it overcome Moscow's materiel and manpower advantages. The Kremlin has also ratcheted up its long-range drone attacks on Ukrainian targets to the highest intensity since the start of the war. Russian forces fired more drones at Ukraine in July than in any month since it launched the 2022 invasion, according to an analysis by AFP, the French news agency. Russia fired 6,297 long-range drones into Ukraine last month – up nearly 16 per cent compared with last month, and the third straight monthly increase. Moscow's armed forces also fired 198 missiles into Ukraine this month, more than in any month this year except in June, according to the data released by Ukraine's air force. On Friday, Ukrainian officials increased the death toll to 31 from the Russian drone and missile barrage against Kyiv on July 31. The number was revised after rescuers pulled three more bodies from the rubble from the 27 strike zones, which had included residential buildings, schools and a children's hospital. A day of mourning for the dead in Kyiv was observed on Friday, with Ukrainian embassies across Europe lowering their flags to half-mast. On Friday, Germany announced that it had delivered a further two Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine as part of a deal with Mr Trump to increase shipments of US weapons to the war-torn country. The scheme had previously delivered one of the surface-to-air batteries, which are crucial in defending Ukrainian cities against incoming ballistic missiles fired by Russia. 'This is great news, and I welcome Germany's leadership. This will help ensure Ukraine is able to defend its skies, protect its people, and deter Russian aggression,' said Mark Rutte, Nato's secretary general. With less than a week before Mr Trump's threatened deadline for the introduction of Russian sanctions, at least two vessels loaded with Russian oil bound for refineries in India were diverted to other destinations, Reuters reported on Friday. The news wire, citing anonymous trade sources, said it was the result of US Treasury sanctions on 115 Iran-linked individuals, entities, and ships, some of which transport Russian oil. On Friday, India also began buying up oil from the Gulf and the US, Bloomberg reported. The US president has threatened to hit Russia with a 100 per cent trade tariff and to also slap the same rate on countries buying fossil fuels from Moscow if Vladimir Putin refuses to end the war in Ukraine. He is preparing 'shock and awe' sanctions on Russian exports, Senator Jim Risch, the Republican chairman of the powerful Senate foreign relations committee, has said. On Friday, Putin signalled no change in his war plans despite the looming threat of US sanctions. The Russian president said his forces were advancing along the entire front line in Ukraine and claimed he would be willing to hold more peace talks with Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's president, also claimed he was prepared to meet Putin for face-to-face talks, doubling down on his attempt to show the Russians as the obstruction to peace. He said he had discussed 'possible formats for peace negotiations at the level of leaders' in a phone call with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Friday.
The Independent
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Three children among 27 wounded in Russian drone strike on Kharkiv
At least three children were among 20 people wounded as a result of a Russian drone attack on Ukraine 's second-largest city of Kharkiv overnight, which damaged apartments and a kindergarten. Russia and Ukraine struck each other with hundreds of drones over the weekend, forcing the shutdown of airports in Moscow and throwing Russian air travel in disarray. Russia said its air defences shot down 120 Ukrainian drones during the nighttime attacks, and another 39 on Sunday morning. Meanwhile, Russia 's authorities have stopped reporting on the number of deaths nationwide in an apparent bid to conceal losses from Vladimir Putin 's war in Ukraine. The Russian Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) did not report demographic data in its January to May 2025 'socioeconomic situation in Russia ' report, said Meduza, a Russian-language news outlet operating from Latvia. The Institute for the Study of War said withholding death figures was "an attempt to obfuscate Russia's ongoing demographic problems" and "likely also aims to obscure the Russian military's high personnel loss rates". Watch: Russia and Ukraine carry out another prisoner swap Bryony Gooch7 July 2025 09:00 In pictures: Odesa in flames Bryony Gooch7 July 2025 08:40 Ukraine downs 75 Russian drones overnight Ukraine's air force has reported 105 Russian drones and missiles attacked the country overnight in the north, east and south of the country. The military was able to down 75 drones via fire weapons and electronic warfare. Bryony Gooch7 July 2025 08:22 In photos: Russian attacks wound 27 in Ukraine's Kharkiv Arpan Rai7 July 2025 08:07 Zelensky signs deals to mass produce drones Ukraine has inked deals with European allies and a leading US defence company to step up drone production, ensuring Kyiv receives "hundreds of thousands" more this year, the war-time country's president announced. Volodymyr Zelensky did not name the US business in his nightly video address to Ukrainians, but said Ukraine and Denmark have also agreed to co-produce drones and other weapons on Danish soil. 'With Denmark – new agreements on coproduction. The Danish model of investing in Ukraine's own DIB has proven its effectiveness. Joint work on the territory of Denmark, and soon in other key partner countries, is allowing us to scale up even more. This applies to drones and many other types of urgently needed weapons,' he said on Saturday night. He added: 'As per drones, we've also reached an agreement with one of the leading American companies to significantly increase our joint efforts.' Ukraine has previously used homemade drones to hit high-value military targets deep inside Russia, demonstrating its capabilities and denting Moscow's confidence. Last month, Kyiv said it destroyed more than 40 Russian planes stationed at several airfields deep inside Russia in a surprise attack. Outmanned and outgunned, Ukraine's army has also turned to drones to compensate for its troop shortage and shore up its defences. While Russia has ramped up offensives this summer on two fronts in Ukraine, analysts say the front isn't about to collapse. Arpan Rai7 July 2025 07:44 Russia says it downs eight Ukrainian drones headed for Moscow Russian air defence units shot down eight Ukrainian drones headed for Moscow late yesterday, from a total of 90 overnight over Russian territory, the Black Sea and the Crimean peninsula, the defence ministry said. Most came down over regions near Ukraine, but three were also destroyed over the Leningrad area, home to Russia's second-largest city of St Petersburg, the ministry said this morning. Russia's defence ministry reports only the numbers of drones destroyed, not the numbers launched by Ukraine. It also does not report possible damage, but regional governors said the attacks caused no substantial damage. Russia's civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia reported temporary airport closures in the two cities and other regional centres, as well as delays to dozens of flights. Arpan Rai7 July 2025 07:31 Russia stops reporting all deaths to conceal losses in Ukraine – report Russian authorities have stopped reporting on the number of deaths in Russia to conceal its losses from the war in Ukraine, according to a report. Meduza, Russia's opposition outlet, said that the Russian Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) did not report demographic data in its January to May 2025 'socioeconomic situation in Russia' report. Additionally, electoral statistics researcher Dmitry Kobak said late last month that 'Rosstat refused to fulfill his request for data pertaining to 2024 male excess mortality and monthly deaths by date of death', said The Institute for the Study of War. 'ISW previously assessed that Rosstat is concealing population data in an attempt to obfuscate Russia's ongoing demographic problems, and the omission of demographic data in Rosstat's reports likely also aims to obscure the Russian military's high personnel loss rates,' the think tank said in its latest update. Three children among 23 wounded in Russia's drone attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine says At least three children were among 20 people wounded as a result of a Russian drone attack on Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv overnight that damaged apartments and a kindergarten, Ukrainian authorities said this morning. A fire broke out in a multi-storey residential building in Kharkiv as a result of the attack, mayor Ihor Terekhov said. Oleh Sinehubov, governor of the broader Kharkiv region of which the city of Kharkiv is the administrative centre, said that most of the injuries occurred in the city's Shevchenkivskyi district. Emergency services were working at the site, Mr Sinehubov said. Kharkiv, which lies in northeastern Ukraine near the border with Russia, has been the target of regular Russian drone and missile attacks since the start of the war that Moscow launched with a full-scale invasion more than three years ago. Arpan Rai7 July 2025 06:32 Dutch intelligence services say Russia has stepped up use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine Two Dutch intelligence agencies said on Friday that Russia is increasing its use of prohibited chemical weapons in Ukraine, including the World War I-era poison gas chloropicrin. The Netherlands' military intelligence and the security service, together with the German intelligence service, found that the use of prohibited chemical weapons by the Russian military had become 'standardized and commonplace' in Ukraine. According to the findings, the Russian military uses chloropicrin and riot control agent CS against sheltering Ukrainian soldiers, who are then forced out into the open and shot. Dutch intelligence services say Russia has stepped up use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine Two Dutch intelligence agencies say that Russia is increasing its use of prohibited chemical weapons in Ukraine including the World War I-era poison gas chloropicrin Arpan Rai7 July 2025 06:00 Putin may be mocking Trump over Ukraine – but the US president won't do anything about it European leaders have redoubled their efforts to prise Donald Trump away from Russia by warning that the US president is being 'mocked' by Vladimir Putin, alleging that Moscow is using chemical weapons in Ukraine and demanding that the US restore weapons supplies to Kyiv. The move came after Ukraine said it had endured the biggest overnight air attack of the entire war, with swarms of 500 drones and missiles intended to overwhelm already stretched air defences. Radek Sikorski, Poland's foreign minister, called for the US to end its suspension of air defence missiles and other weapons – most of which are on standby for delivery to Poland –and derided Trump's fruitless efforts to secure a ceasefire. 'Mr Trump, Putin is mocking your peace efforts,' said the Oxford-educated Sikorski. Arpan Rai7 July 2025 05:45
NHK
03-07-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Russia welcomes US suspension of weapons shipments to Ukraine
Russia has welcomed the US suspension of some weapons shipments to Ukraine. But Ukraine maintains it has begun negotiations with the US over the arms supply. The administration of President Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday that the US has halted some weapons shipments to Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov welcomed the move. He said on Wednesday, "the fewer weapons are supplied to Ukraine, the sooner the special military operation ends." Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that his country has started negotiations with the United States. He said in a social media post on Wednesday that the two countries are "clarifying all the details of defense support, including air defense" at the working level. The continued provision of the air defense system is critical for the country. A US think tank, the Institute for the Study of War, said in its analysis on Wednesday that the "suspension of US aid to Ukraine will reinforce Russian President Vladimir Putin's theory" on winning the war of attrition. Russian forces are intensifying attacks across Ukraine. In June alone, they fired 5,438 long-range drones at Ukrainian cities and elsewhere, more than in any month since Russia's invasion. Ukraine is keenly watching whether the US will continue its military assistance to the country.
