Latest news with #NationalGuardofUkraine
NDTV
08-06-2025
- NDTV
Birds Build Nests Using Fibre Optics Found In FPV Drones In Ukraine
In a scene straight out of a post-apocalyptic dystopian movie, a bird's nest constructed using fibre optic cable from the armed drones has been found in Ukraine. The picture of the nest has been circulating on social media, highlighting how much debris from fibre-guided FPVs was now littered across the Ukrainian and Russian landscape, since the war broke out three years ago. The 12th Azov Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine discovered the novel-looking nest near the front line in Toretsk, Donetsk region. It is almost entirely made up of fibre optic, with birds using it as they would use grass, hair or fur. "Birds were the first after people to use the remains of fibre optic for their own needs. This is just one of dozens of manifestations of how nature survives in the flames of war," the brigade's message said, as per Ukrainian News. In recent months, FPV drones, controlled via fibre optic cable, have been used aggressively by both parties to gain an advantage over the territories. The use of fibre optics allows the operator of an FPV drone to perform tasks despite electronic warfare (EW) equipment. According to Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, 15 companies now make fibre drones in the country. The rapid progress has been made possible due to the help of former US Marine Troy Smothers, who took his fibre drone design to Ukraine to demonstrate the technology and develop the local industry. Ukrainian drones inflict damage Last week, Ukraine launched a major drone attack against Russian military airbases, located thousands of kilometres from the front line. Code-named 'Spider's web', Ukraine used 117 drones and a corresponding number of drone operators who managed to destroy Russian bombers and other important air assets. The airbases in the eastern Siberian city of Belaya, Olenya, in the Arctic near Finland, and Ivanovo and Dyagilevo - both east of Moscow, were the major targets of the attack. Images and videos of the incident circulating on social media showed the Ukrainian drone operators taking their time and eliminating the Russian aircraft using the drones.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zelensky to consider allowing private army formations after latest ultimatums from Russia
President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a briefing on June 4 that he may consider allowing the creation of private armies in Ukraine. His comment came as a reaction to one of the points in the latest Russian memorandum, which calls for Ukraine to eliminate 'nationalist formations' and private military companies. 'I will now start thinking about it after such ultimatums,' Zelensky said. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine currently has no private armed groups under its law, noting, 'If they are talking about 'Azov,' it is the National Guard of Ukraine.' He contrasted Ukraine's military structure with Russia's use of private forces and mercenary groups like Wagner, highlighting the double standards. 'They (Russia) have 'Wagner' and it is true. They admit it, they admit that they have private military formations that we destroyed,' Zelensky said. According to a document leaked after the second round of talks with Ukraine, Russia's demands also include Ukraine's neutral status, a ban on the country's NATO bid and other possible military alliances, and an official end to Western arms supplies and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Russia is also demanding the official recognition of Crimea, as well as Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts as Russian, even though significant portions of these regions are still under Ukrainian control. Read also: Putin, Trump, Zelensky trilateral meeting 'unlikely' to happen soon, Kremlin says We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Straits Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Ukraine's drone attacks on Russian bombers prompt key military powers to assess own vulnerabilities
Servicemen of the 15th Operative Purpose Brigade Kara-Dag, of the National Guard of Ukraine, prepare a Darts strike drone for flight over positions of Russian troops, near Kupiansk, Ukraine, on May 11. PHOTO: REUTERS LONDON – The intelligence services of major countries are scrambling to assess the long-term impact of Ukraine's June 1 spectacular attacks on Russia's military airfields. Separating facts from the propaganda generated by both sides is not an easy task. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ukrainian widow gives birth to son conceived through IVF after husband's death at front
A Ukrainian woman has given birth to a baby boy conceived using reproductive technology after her husband was killed in action defending Ukraine. Source: Rivne Oblast Perinatal Centre on Facebook Details: The baby boy was born at the Blahodar Perinatal Centre on 20 May 2025. His mother, Natalia Hordiichuk, is the widow of Yurii, a serviceman who died on 21 May 2024 defending Ukraine. The couple had struggled with fertility issues during their marriage, so Yurii had provided biomaterial for storage. "My husband and I had been trying for this pregnancy for over a year," says Natalia. "We went through tests and visited the Blahodar centre. He provided the biological material – they told him to come back three days later for the results. That was in March. Then he went to the front line." "On 21 May, they called me and said he was gone. I didn't believe he had died until I saw for myself," she adds. Yurii Hordiychuk has become a father posthumously Yurii Hordiichuk served as a rifleman in the National Guard of Ukraine and was killed in action near the village of Sokil in Donetsk Oblast. After her husband's death, Natalia decided to use his frozen samples for in vitro fertilisation (IVF). When the doctor asked Natalia if she was truly ready to take this step, she recalled her husband's words: "You are strong, you will cope." A few months later, Natalia learned she was pregnant. "I cried so much. I went straight to Yurii's grave and told him," she recalls. The day before the first anniversary of her husband's death, Natalia gave birth to a boy. She named her son Yurii in honour of his father. The young mother says that after she lost her husband, she didn't want to go on living, but her son's birth has given her life new meaning: "Some part of him lives on. I have someone to live for." The fertility clinic said this is their first case involving biomaterial from a deceased soldier. Quote from the centre: "This story is about love stronger than death. About motherhood, inspired by memory. About life born against all odds. We are proud to have been part of this unique story." Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Euronews
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Russia and Ukraine each release hundreds in large-scale prisoner swap
Ukraine and Russia exchanged hundreds of prisoners on Saturday in the second phase of a massive swap between the countries. Both sides released 307 servicemen, a day after 390 combatants and civilians were freed in the first phase on Friday. "Among those who returned today are soldiers from our army, the State Border Service, and the National Guard of Ukraine,' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on his official Telegram channel. The majority of Ukrainian soldiers released were taken captive in the Donetsk region, some as long ago as 2022, the Ukrainian leader said in an additional video address. He added that others were captured in territories of the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Luhansk regions. A total of 697 Ukrainians have returned home over the past two days, with a third prisoner swap expected to take place on Sunday, which would make it the largest swap in thiree years of conflict. Kyiv and Moscow agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners from each side during the talks in Istanbul last week. It marks a rare moment of cooperation between the two nations, who have failed multipe times to reach on a ceasefire deal. However, the swap did not halt the fighting. On Saturday, a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv injured at least 15 people and damaged residential buildings and a shopping mall. "Russia fills each day with horror and murder; it's simply dragging out the war," Zelenskyy said in the video address on Saturday. ""Ukraine is ready for any form of diplomacy that delivers real results. We are ready for all steps that can guarantee true security. It is Russia that is not ready for anything. Next week must be a time for action aimed at increasing pressure on Russia – in other words, aimed at securing peace." Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar walked with a small group of supporters across the border to Romania and was met by supporters in the Romanian city of Oradea on Saturday morning. The president of the Tisza Party left Budapest 10 days ago, and departed on his journey in an effort to win support from Hungarian communities in Romania and appeal to voters who traditionally vote conservative, as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán provides financial support to ethnic Hungarians in Romania. "We are not going (to Romania) to escalate tensions or to cause any harm to our Hungarian brothers and sisters living there. We are going there to express our solidarity," Magyar had said before his departure. He had announced the march, called the "one million steps for peace and national unity" initiative, in the wake of Orbán's communion with far-right, anti-Hungarian presidential candidate George Simion ahead of the Romanian presidential elections. "It has become clear that the corrupt, tired and discredited Prime Minister sees Hungarians abroad as a political product. He tried and is trying to lure you to him not out of faith, not out of commitment, not out of love for his countrymen, but merely to win votes," Magyar said in a speech to hundreds of people in Oradea. "And now, in order to retain power, he is trembling, using increasingly crude means, crossing all boundaries, doing whatever he can, regardless of the damage he is doing to the nation," he added. The opposition leader recognised Hungarians "long for a country that loves each of its citizens, a country that does not stigmatise, that does not push into exclusion." He warned that division, incitement and hatred lead to destruction. "Orbán's destruction, hate-mongering and trench-digging are a thing of the past. The final countdown has begun," Magyar concluded. The politician told Euronews that he had experienced positive feedback from supporters, but he was also met by counter-protesters who chanted Orbán's name, and shouted "Traitor!" and "Go home". Magyar ended his speech by addressing the Romanian people. He applauded them for the outcome of their election, and encouraged them to stay on the European path. The politician emphasised the importance of mutual respect between Romanians and the Hungarian community.
