War

President Volodymyr Zelensky held a Supreme Commander-in-Chief Staff meeting in Zaporizhzhia where air defense and stabilization of the frontlines were on top agenda. The Head of State of Ukraine said this in an evening video address to the nation, seen by Ukrinform.  “A lot of work is required on Zaporizhia: security situation, sky protection. I held a Staff meeting here today, and primarily it was about air defense, stabilization of the frontline, achieving our main security tasks. We need real peace, and therefore, we must be really strong to this end. And we must do everything so that each day…

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine greeted the Land Forces troops on their professional holiday, noting that they carry the weight of defending Ukraine on their shoulders. That's according to the address posted on Zelensky's Facebook page, as seen by Ukrinform. [embedded content] “Today is the Day of the Land Forces— the largest component of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These warriors carry the weight of our country's defense on their shoulders and endure the toughest battles,” the president wrote on Facebook. Read also: Russian war casualties in Ukraine increase 1,390 in past day He expressed gratitude “for defending us, taking…

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced a €170 million funding package for six European countries bordering Russia and Belarus to strengthen their border security. As reported by Ukrinform, von der Leyen shared the news on social media platform X following discussions with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. Von der Leyen acknowledged Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Norway for their role in defending the European Union's borders against various threats originating from Russia and Belarus. "They are securing our common borders. So today we’re making available €170 million to support their efforts," von der Leyen wrote. Read…

Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko stated on Wednesday that Ukraine would be able to continue its fight at least through the first half of 2025 even without support from the United States. The minister said this in an interview with El País, responding to a question about the potential cessation of U.S. aid, Ukrinform reports citing Suspilne Novyny. Marchenko acknowledged that such a scenario would present a significant challenge for Ukraine. He stressed the importance of Kyiv having a strategy to establish favorable conditions for cooperation with the U.S. new administration. "It is in Ukraine's natural interest to build trust…

The U.S. Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine of F-16 Sustainment Services and related equipment for an estimated cost of $266.4 million. This information was disclosed in an official announcement by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on Tuesday, as reported by Ukrinform. "This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe," the document states. The agreement includes Ukraine's request…

The war in Ukraine has shown that the use of unmanned systems, artificial intelligence (AI) and other innovative technologies will be crucial in the future of warfare, so the EU must actively develop its own technological base in order not to depend on third countries. EU High Representative Josep Borrell wrote about this in his blog published on the website of the European External Action Service. He made his remarks following his participation in the COTEC conference on technological sovereignty in defense, which took place in September in the Spanish city of Las Palmas. “The war against Ukraine has provided…

Finland’s Defense Forces believe that the experience gained from arms supplies to Ukraine will be useful for the development of the latest Finnish military equipment. This was stated by the head of the Department of Military Economy at Finland’s Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Mikko Heiskanen, Ukrinform reports with reference to Yle. He noted that not only older defense materiel stored in warehouses is exported to Ukraine. According to Heiskanen, the latest innovations of the Finnish defense industry are being delivered, including some that are still being developed. Read also: Finland’s aid to Ukraine amounts to almost EUR 3B "The feedback…

The Unmanned Systems Forces needs to be dynamic and flexible to create the army of the future, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, told a meeting of the working group on unmanned systems, where priorities for the development of land, sea, and air platforms were determined and key tasks were outlined at all levels. That’s according to the top commander’s report on Facebook, seen by Ukrinform. Syrskyi said one of his strategic tasks is the transformation of the Ukrainian Army into a high-tech force. According to the commandeer, this will allow to not only have an edge…

U.S. President Joe Biden instructed his security team to change the guidance regarding the use of American weapons by Ukraine for hitting military targets on Russian soil, but this does not apply to ATACMS. This was stated in an interview with Ukrinform by Senior Director for Europe at the U.S. National Security Council, Michael Carpenter. "This comes in the context of the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region, after which the Ukrainian side came to us and asked for permission to be able to strike targets in Russia that were firing against Ukrainian positions, Ukrainian villages, and towns," Carpenter noted.…

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced the delivery to Ukraine of a new package of military equipment worth EUR 500 million, which will include cruise missiles for IRIS-T SLM and IRIS-T SLS air defense systems, drones, IFVs, and sniper rifles. Pistorius said this at a joint briefing with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov in Odesa, reports an Ukrinform correspondent. The head of the German defense ministry expressed respect for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and their resolve to fight against Russian aggression. Read also: Germany’s defense chief visits training for Ukrainian recruits mastering Patriots "We are ready to provide further…