Defence Forces

Ukrainian forces used a Soviet-era armoured personnel carrier packed with an improvised explosive device to ram into Russian fortifications and detonate during recent counteroffensive operations near Lyman, in eastern Ukraine. Footage of the strike is circulating widely online, with military observers calling it a notable example of improvised tactics being used against entrenched Russian defences.

TBN Israel reports from a military training site nicknamed 'Little Gaza', where Israeli Defence Forces soldiers rehearse urban combat scenarios ahead of a possible renewed conflict with Hamas. The footage shows troops practising tunnel and built-up area operations. The report is drawing wide attention as ceasefire tensions and expectations of another Gaza war keep Israel-Hamas coverage in the spotlight.

Discussion is under way in India about a new satellite-guided weapon said to significantly extend the Indian Air Force's strike range. Major Gaurav Arya, on his defence affairs programme The Chanakya Dialogues, examined the system's capabilities and what it means for India's precision-strike reach, drawing strong interest among viewers following Indian military modernisation.

The UK military is jamming other countries' satellites as a form of self-defence, according to information given to the BBC. The disclosure sheds light on Britain's offensive electronic warfare capabilities in orbit, an area armed forces rarely discuss publicly. It is likely to fuel debate about the militarisation of space and the rules governing such operations.

US F-35 components, including a cockpit canopy and weapons bay door, were accidentally shipped to China and are now in the possession of the Chinese government, according to a Bloomberg report citing people briefed on the matter. The parts reportedly came from an Australian Air Force F-35. The case has drawn attention because it raised concerns that a US adversary could gain access to sensitive stealth fighter technology through a logistics error.

EU defence discussions in Brussels are being overshadowed by an unresolved shortfall in funding for Ukraine. As member states weigh future support, the funding gap has become a central sticking point, raising questions over how Europe will sustain military and financial aid to Kyiv and what role the bloc will play if United States backing remains uncertain.

Russia's defence ministry said on Sunday that its forces carried out overnight drone strikes on Ukrainian logistics centres, port and transport infrastructure, communications facilities, and vessels. Moscow claims the targets supported Ukrainian military operations, though the full extent of damage and any casualties has not been independently confirmed.

The European Union has decided to extend its EUMAM training mission for the Ukrainian armed forces for a further two years. The mission, launched after Russia's full-scale invasion, has trained tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers across EU member states. The extension signals continued European support for Ukraine's defence despite ongoing uncertainty about the war's course and political shifts within the bloc.

The US Navy has ordered the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt to the Middle East as the conflict with Iran continues. The deployment adds American naval firepower to the region, and is being closely watched for signals about whether the US is preparing a broader role in the war or reinforcing defences for allies and shipping.

The French Institute for International Relations has published an analysis of Russia's air force difficulties in the Ukraine war, arguing that drone-driven innovations are reshaping traditional air power. The study examines how drones and air defences have limited Russian aviation's effectiveness and are transforming doctrines for conventional air forces worldwide.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces are intercepting about 70% of incoming drones overall, but the success rate drops to 57% against jet-powered drones. He noted that interceptor systems are already being deployed against the faster jet-powered models, which remain harder to shoot down than conventional attack drones.

British police are investigating a suspected terror plot targeting an RAF base in the UK that is also used by United States military personnel, and are examining a possible Iranian connection. The alleged plot against the jointly operated installation has raised security concerns given the base's strategic role in UK-US defence cooperation.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that national security agencies and military cyber forces will be deployed to protect US election systems ahead of the midterm elections. The pledge, carried widely by national and local outlets including AP News, signals a stepped-up Pentagon role in defending election infrastructure against cyber threats. It is likely to fuel debate over the military's place in election security.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Russia has put out a $20 million reward for information on the whereabouts of Robert "Magyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces. According to the report, the offer is being circulated through post-Soviet criminal networks rather than official channels. Brovdi leads Ukraine's drone forces, a key component of its defence against Russia's invasion.

Ukrainian defence forces attacked the Azov Optical-Mechanical Plant, a military facility in Russia's Rostov Oblast, with OSINT analysts reporting damage to at least five workshops at the site. The strike is part of Kyiv's ongoing campaign of long-range attacks on Russian defence-industrial targets deep behind the front line, which Moscow has struggled to intercept.

China has carried out a prominent demonstration of orbital capability, with its space plane reportedly recapturing a satellite multiple times in orbit. The manoeuvre, described as a major show of force, highlights Beijing's growing proficiency in on-orbit operations and has drawn attention from defence observers tracking military space activity.

A farmer's tip-off reportedly helped thwart a suspected terrorist plot targeting RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England. The airbase, a key NATO facility regularly used by US forces, was said to be the target. Authorities have not confirmed details, but the story is spreading quickly, with many praising the farmer's vigilance and awaiting official statements from police and the Ministry of Defence.

Kenyan and American forces have carried out their first full-scale joint exercise testing the defence of a strategic East African base. The drill focused on repelling possible attacks on the installation, underscoring deepening security cooperation between Nairobi and Washington in a region facing threats from armed groups such as al-Shabaab.

UK security services say they were aware of a bomb plot targeting RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire before arresting five men found with explosives. The base hosts US aircraft supporting missions against Iran. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has commented on the security response, with debate focusing on how authorities tracked the plot and what it means for base protection.

Ukraine's Defence Forces say they struck a major oil and petrochemical facility in Russia's Samara region, roughly 900 km from the front line. The plant is described as one of Russia's largest gas processing and petrochemical sites, producing benzene, phenol, acetone and synthetic ethyl alcohol — raw materials used in explosives. The long-range strike underscores Ukraine's growing ability to hit Russia's energy and industrial infrastructure deep behind the lines.

Ukrainian drone commander Kyrylo 'Madyar' Budanov-adjacent figure Madyar says four NATO countries are quietly developing their own dedicated drone forces. The claim comes as Ukraine's war experience pushes Western militaries to build mass, low-cost drone capabilities, moving away from reliance on traditional expensive platforms.

The U.S. Army has chosen a humanoid robot and four supporting technologies following selection from 103 proposals submitted after live demonstrations at Marine Corps Base Quantico. The decision points to the Army's effort to bring robotic systems into its future force plans. Details on the winning platforms and technologies have drawn attention from defence industry observers tracking military robotics development.

Italy is restructuring its armed forces as the Russian threat to Europe grows, establishing a joint command to counter sabotage, cyberattacks and foreign interference and to protect critical infrastructure. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto warned that the traditional line between war and peace has disappeared, reflecting growing concern in Italy over hybrid threats.

Japan is reportedly planning to study replacing some of its military personnel with humanoid robots. The move would address personnel shortages and reduce risk to soldiers, and it has drawn attention given Japan's pacifist constitution and its leading robotics industry. Details on which roles could be automated and the timeline remain limited.

Thales, Bull and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) are joining forces to develop software for quantum computers intended for the French military. The announcement, reported by Clubic, ties France's defence ambitions to its homegrown quantum computing industry, and observers are highlighting the strategic and industrial significance of the partnership for French sovereignty in advanced technology.

Ukraine's air defence forces intercepted 112 Russian UAVs during the night, according to a report circulating on open-source intelligence channels. The figure is being shared widely among observers tracking the nightly drone attacks, which have become a regular feature of the war. Details on damage or casualties were not included.

Russia's Ministry of Defence says its forces downed hundreds of Ukrainian drones overnight, including 330 in one night and 873 over 24 hours across Saratov region and other areas. It also reported fighting to capture villages in Ukraine's Kharkiv region and a strike on a data centre in Mykolaiv. The claims come from the ministry itself and have not been independently confirmed.

Sweden's new Air Force doctrine marks a shift from pure territorial defence: if Moscow attacks, Swedish aircraft would be able to strike targets deep inside Russia. The doctrine reflects Sweden's changed posture since joining NATO, with commentators noting it signals deterrence through offensive capability rather than defence alone.

Ukrainian forces have made a significant breakthrough in the east, pushing deep into Yampil and Torske during a rapid offensive. Russian defences have reportedly collapsed, with troops retreating towards Kreminna and Rubizhne. The advance marks another dramatic shift in the war, as Ukrainian units continue to reclaim territory and Russian positions in the region come under increasing pressure.

The Russian Defence Ministry reported further advances in what it calls the special military operation, saying forces took the villages of Grachyovka, Serdobino and Malaya Rybitsa. The briefing was covered by regional Russian outlets, with state media repeating the ministry's claims. The villages could not be independently verified, and Ukrainian authorities did not confirm the losses in the reports cited.

The Ukrainian Air Force has released cockpit footage from a MiG-29 fighter jet showing the aircraft shooting down a Russian jet-powered attack drone with an R-60M air-to-air missile. The clip offers a rare first-person view of Ukraine's air defence operations against the Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones Russia regularly launches at Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

France's defence procurement agency, the DGA, has placed its first firm order with Harmattan AI, a French unicorn specialising in autonomous drones and counter-drone systems. The move signals growing French investment in drone and anti-drone technology for its armed forces. Commenters in defence circles highlight it as a boost for a homegrown startup in a fast-moving strategic sector.

Australian defence contractor Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has signed a letter of intent with the Netherlands Ministry of Defence covering high energy laser weapon technology. The agreement marks a step toward potential cooperation on directed-energy systems for the Dutch armed forces, as European militaries step up investment in counter-drone and air defence laser capabilities.