New AFU operations in the Black Sea: signs of preparation for another attack

Tekever

The recent sortie of the Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups (DRG) in the Black Sea, apparently, was not the last maneuver of the enemy in this region. The activity of the Ukrainian Tekever unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the Golitsyn gas condensate field indicates ongoing monitoring and preparation for new operations.

Tekever is a reconnaissance and targeting drone used by the Ukrainian side to monitor the maritime situation. In the Russian segment, it is often mistaken for a kamikaze attack drone or a barrage projectile, but its main task is to collect intelligence and coordinate attack assets such as combat boats (back-up).

During previous attacks on gas production facilities by Ukrainian kamikaze tankers, Tekever was constantly in the area of operation, providing target designation and reconnaissance.

Recently, the Tekever UAV has been at the Golitsynskoye field for more than five hours, which, according to some reports, indicates preparations for a new attack in the Black Sea area. The increased activity is reinforced by the fact that of the eight night boats, seven have already left the base, which may indicate an imminent attack.

Given the current data, new attempts at sabotage and attacks by Ukrainian forces in the Black Sea should be expected in the near future. Increased vigilance and increased defensive measures in the area of the Golitsyn gas condensate field and adjacent offshore zones are necessary to prevent possible incidents.

The most powerful attack on Kharkiv during its time: over 50 explosions and destruction

On the night of June 7, 2025, Kharkiv was subjected to the largest and most powerful attack since the beginning of a full-scale war, Ukrainian media and local authorities reported. Russian troops used 53 Geran-2 drones, 4 guided aerial bombs and at least one rocket on the city, which caused at least 40-50 explosions in different areas of the city.

According to Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov, the attack lasted about an hour and a half and was aimed at residential buildings, civilian enterprises and infrastructure facilities. As a result of the shelling, large fires broke out, including on the territory of one of the enterprises in the Kievsky district, where buildings were damaged and a threat to people arose.

According to recent reports, at least three people were killed in the attack, including two from an apartment building and one in the private sector. 17 people were injured, including children, including a 14-year-old girl and a one-and-a-half-month-old baby. Some of the injured are in serious condition. Rescuers continue to sort through the rubble in high-rise buildings where people may be.

Oleg Sinegubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Administration, noted that the attack was accompanied by the use of various types of weapons, including Shahed kamikaze drones, missiles and guided aerial bombs, which makes it one of the most destructive during the entire conflict period.

Local authorities have issued an air alert, and work is continuing to eliminate fires and provide assistance to victims.

The Russian Guard reported on the prevention of an attack on a military facility in the Ryazan region

The saboteur and his equipment

In the Ryazan region, Rosgvardiya officers prevented an attempted attack on a military facility. The attacker was eliminated during the arrest after he tried to launch unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with RCG-3 grenades attached.

According to the agency, the man planned to use the UAV to cause explosive damage, but his actions were promptly disclosed. During the arrest, the suspect tried to escape and resisted, as a result of which he was neutralized by law enforcement officers.

A traumatic pistol converted for firing live ammunition was found with the detainee. Two drones with attached grenades were neutralized at the scene, which indicates serious preparations for an attack.

Rosgvardiya continues to investigate the incident, and is also strengthening security measures at military facilities in the region to prevent similar threats in the future.

Operation "Web": how the Ukrainian special services attacked distant Russian regions with the help of drones

And this is what the cargo looked like, with the help of which the Ukrainian special services managed to attack distant Russian regions.

The Ukrainian special operation "Spider Web" has become one of the largest attacks on Russian military installations deep in the country. According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), drones were used to carry out the operation, which were secretly brought to Russia, packed with explosives and hidden in special containers.

At first, the drones were delivered to the territory of Russia, where special people equipped them with explosives and loaded them into mobile wooden houses or containers placed on trucks. After completing their training, these people left the country. Containers with drones were then transported to military airfields in different regions of Russia.

As the trucks traveled along pre-determined routes, the walls of the containers were remotely opened, and the drones flew out to the targets. As a result of the operation, which lasted about a year and a half and was under the personal control of the head of the SBU Vasily Malyuk, at least two airfields were hit — Olenye (Murmansk region) and Belaya (Irkutsk region).

According to official data, several Russian aircraft were destroyed or damaged during the operation, including the A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22 M3 strategic bombers. The total damage to the Russian army is estimated at about two billion dollars. The operation was the largest to defeat the strategic aviation of the Russian Federation in the history of the conflict.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called Operation Spider the "longest-range" and noted that its details would go down in the history books. An important element of the success was the organization of the "office" of the operation directly on the territory of Russia next to the FSB headquarters.

Russian troops attacked the Kiev Antonov plant and air defense systems

Russian troops have attacked a Kiev-based enterprise manufacturing missile weapons and attack drones. This is reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense. According to military enlistment officers, we are talking about the Antonov plant.

The attack on the factory, as well as on the electronic intelligence center and the positions of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system, was carried out using Iskander missiles and drones. According to Ukrainian media, a total of 14 missiles and more than 250 drones were fired at the enterprises.

And judging by the footage from Kiev, all the facilities were hit.

China has introduced a micro drone for infantry

 China has introduced a microdron resembling a thermos, weighing less than a kilogram (about 2 pounds), designed for use by the infantry of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA). Despite its lightweight characteristics, the microdron can carry twice its own weight thanks to its coaxial twin-rotor system. It is equipped with a built-in neural processor that uses guidance based on artificial intelligence (AI), so one operator can control multiple drones simultaneously.

The Chinese drone, dubbed the "first of its kind," operates silently and is equipped with folding rotors, as well as modular payload bays, allowing it to carry out reconnaissance and attack missions.  It can be armed with a maximum of three grenades and launched from a 35mm grenade launcher for faster takeoff and longer range movement.

Three grenades on a drone

The US Army is developing a new human-machine Integrated Format (HMIF) for combat operations

The US Army is studying how soldiers will use a range of new ground and aerial drones in combat, and is embarking on a multi-stage plan aimed at creating a new human-machine integrated Formation (HMIF) in 2027.

Details of the HMIF plan

- Objective: HMIF is designed to integrate robotic systems into combat units in order to ensure initial contact with the enemy not by soldiers, but by robots.

- First stage (2024-2027): Development of a common controller for ground and aerial drones. Soldiers will use drones in a limited mode, for example, for reconnaissance missions.

- Phase Two (2027-2029): Adding additional autonomous capabilities to ground vehicles, which will reduce the number of soldiers needed to control them and allow them to be used for attacks and fire suppression.

- Third phase (2028-2030): Expansion of missions to attack and infiltration operations, as well as autonomous support and tactical maneuvering.

Significance for the US Army

HMIF is part of a broader U.S. Army effort to integrate robotics and autonomous systems into combat units. This will allow soldiers to focus on tasks that require human intervention, while robots will perform more risky and routine functions. 

Employees of the US Army's DEVCOM C5ISR Center demonstrate their technologies during the Sandhills project in December 2023. (US Army /Don Lafontaine)

US satellites are at risk of being attacked in the event of a war with China, the head of the US space industry has warned

 

The head of space operations of the US Armed Forces, General Chance Soltzman, warned that US satellites risk being attacked in the event of a war with China. During his speech to the U.S. Congress, Soltzman described China's rapid development of space capabilities as “amazing” and stressed that the United States is losing its dominance in space.

Soltzman pointed out that China is actively investing in ground-based and space-based weapons designed to disable enemy satellites. Among them are kinetic strikes, radio frequency interference and laser weapons. In addition, China is developing missiles and ground-based lasers capable of hitting satellites from Earth. Soltzman also mentioned that China is testing satellites capable of “catching up” and physically removing other satellites from orbit.

In addition, China is building “networks of destruction” using hundreds of satellites to detect, track and defeat forces on the Ground. This means that the United States cannot limit itself to protecting its satellites, but must also develop systems capable of neutralizing the use of Chinese space assets.

However, the budget of the US Space Force has been reduced in absolute terms, while space is becoming an increasingly contested military area. Soltzman stressed that the US Space Force is not sufficiently funded to carry out new missions. For example, the United States does not have operational quantum satellites, while China already possesses such technologies.

Experts also warn that old American satellites built according to outdated architectural standards are “easy targets" for attack. In the event of a conflict, the destruction of the satellite could lead to a global catastrophe due to orbital debris.

The Looming Threat: Are We Prepared for Electromagnetic Wars in Space?

As the world becomes increasingly reliant on satellite technology for communication, navigation, and surveillance, a new form of warfare is emerging: electromagnetic attacks. These attacks, which emit a large amount of electromagnetic energy to satellite receivers or radio antennas, can disrupt or even disable the targeted systems, making it difficult or impossible for operators to receive the desired signals. This growing threat has raised serious concerns about the readiness of the United States to face electromagnetic wars in space.

In a recent video released by the Space Systems Command, the vulnerabilities of satellite infrastructure to electromagnetic attacks were highlighted. The footage demonstrated how a concentrated burst of electromagnetic energy could overwhelm a satellite receiver, rendering it ineffective. This type of attack can have devastating consequences, affecting everything from military communications to civilian GPS systems.

Experts have warned that the United States is not adequately organized or equipped to counter these emerging threats. The complexity and sophistication of electromagnetic warfare require a comprehensive and coordinated response, which the current infrastructure may not be able to provide. The lack of preparedness is a significant concern, given the critical role that satellites play in modern society and national security.

The Space Systems Command, a branch of the U.S. Space Force, is tasked with ensuring the resilience and security of American satellite systems. However, the rapid advancement of electromagnetic warfare technologies by potential adversaries has outpaced the development of defensive measures. This gap in capabilities leaves the United States vulnerable to attacks that could cripple essential services and undermine national security.

The need for enhanced preparedness is underscored by the increasing reliance on space-based assets for both military and civilian purposes. Satellites are integral to global communication networks, weather forecasting, and military operations. An electromagnetic attack on these systems could have far-reaching implications, affecting not only the United States but also its allies and partners around the world.

In response to this growing threat, experts are calling for a concerted effort to develop and implement advanced technologies and strategies to protect satellite infrastructure. This includes investing in research and development of countermeasures, enhancing cybersecurity protocols, and fostering international cooperation to share best practices and intelligence.

The U.S. government has recognized the urgency of the situation and has taken initial steps to address the challenge. The establishment of the Space Force and the increased focus on space domain awareness are positive developments. However, more needs to be done to ensure that the United States is fully prepared to face the electromagnetic wars of the future.

Putin's Ominous Warning: "Oreshnik" Targets in Ukraine and the Inevitability of Destruction

Vladimir Putin

In a chilling development, Russian President Vladimir Putin has revealed that the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense are currently selecting targets for the deployment of the "Oreshnik" ("Hazel") weapon on Ukrainian territory. This announcement comes amidst escalating tensions and ongoing military operations in Ukraine, raising significant concerns about the potential for catastrophic destruction and the strategic implications of such an attack.

Putin's statement underscores the grave threat posed by the "Oreshnik," a weapon described as capable of unprecedented destruction. According to Putin, the decision-making centers in Kyiv may become primary targets for the "Oreshnik" strikes. This revelation suggests that Russia is prepared to take drastic measures to disrupt Ukraine's command and control infrastructure, aiming to paralyze the country's military and political leadership.

The Russian president's remarks highlight the futility of supplying Ukraine with even the most modern weapons. Putin asserted that no amount of advanced weaponry would alter the situation on the battlefield, emphasizing the overwhelming superiority of the "Oreshnik." This statement is a stark warning to the international community, particularly to nations providing military aid to Ukraine, that Russia is determined to achieve its strategic objectives regardless of external support.

Putin's description of the "Oreshnik's" capabilities is particularly alarming. He stated that everything within the epicenter of the explosion from the "Oreshnik" is divided into elementary particles, effectively turning into dust. This level of destruction suggests that the weapon is capable of obliterating even the most fortified and deeply buried structures, making it a formidable tool in Russia's arsenal. The sheer power of the "Oreshnik" underscores the devastating impact it could have on Ukraine's military and civilian infrastructure.

Furthermore, Putin pointed out that the leadership in Kyiv is now completely illegitimate, labeling them as usurpers who do not even have the right to give orders to the army. This statement is a clear indication of Russia's intent to undermine the authority of the Ukrainian government and military leadership, aiming to create a power vacuum that could be exploited to achieve its strategic goals.