NEWS IN BRIEF – UKRAINE CONFLICT

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Military And Security Developments

Oct 10.

Global: Pro-Ukraine, -West OT systems face elevated disruption risks from pro-Russia hacktivists. On 9 October, the cyber security company Forescout reported that a pro-Russia hacktivist group (‘TwoNet’) is conducting disruptive cyber operations against perceived adversarial critical national infrastructure (CNI). In September, TwoNet used default credentials to infiltrate operational technology (OT) within a decoy water treatment facility that was deliberately created by threat researchers to observe cyber threat actors’ activity. The group then ran a query to identify the system’s databases, before exploiting a software vulnerability (CVE-2021-26829). This displayed a pop-up alert on a compromised human machine interface (HMI); the alert claimed that the attack was successful. TwoNet subsequently disabled logs and other processes, demonstrating its intent and capabilities (despite having merely infiltrated a decoy target). TwoNet is known for targeting IT systems operated by entities that support Ukraine; it typically employs distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. We therefore assess that the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) demonstrated in this latest incident underscore a possible shift in hacktivists’ modus operandi, elevating security and disruption risks for Western OT systems in the short-to-medium term.

Oct 07.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

• POKROVSK: Russian forces made a number of significant advances in and around Pokrovsk (Donetsk oblast), including along the flanks of the Russian tactical penetration to the north-east of the city
• STRIKES: Russia launched its largest combined strike to date against Lviv oblast in western Ukraine overnight on 4-5 October amid a steady uptick in long-range strikes targeting energy infrastructure ahead of the winter period
• DRONES: Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof stated that there is consensus among European countries that Russia is responsible for drone sightings over the continent, but that its involvement cannot be proven
• FORECAST: President Donald Trump stated that he would want to know how Ukraine plans to use long-range Tomahawk missiles before agreeing to supply them due to concerns about escalating the Russo-Ukrainian war
• POKROVSK: Between 2 and 7 October, Russian forces made a number of significant advances in and around Pokrovsk (Donetsk oblast), including along the flanks of the Russian tactical penetration to the north-east of the city. A prominent Ukrainian military observer confirmed various Russian advances on 6 October, including the seizure of the villages of Dorozhnie and Ivanivka (both Donetsk), which are located around nine miles (15km) to the north-east of Pokrovsk. Russian forces have also advanced further north inside the tactical penetration area; they re-entered the eastern outskirts of Zolotyi Kolodyaz (Donetsk), which is located around 16 miles (26km) to the north of Pokrovsk. Small Russian infantry units are also reportedly operating to the north of the settlement, indicating that Russian forces are continuing their efforts to consolidate the area, despite determined Ukrainian counter-attacks.
• POKROVSK: Around the city of Pokrovsk itself, Russian forces have made notable advances to the north, east and south of the city, placing ever greater pressure on the area. Ukrainian sources confirmed on 6 October that Russian forces have seized Krasnyi Lyman (Donetsk), a village located around three miles (5km) directly to the north-east of Pokrovsk. In more significant developments, however, Russian forces have now likely retaken the entirety of the much larger satellite town of Novoekonomichne (Donetsk), located around six miles (10km) to the north-east of Pokrovsk. Novoekonomichne has been heavily fought over in recent months; while it remains unclear whether Ukrainian forces will be able to launch yet another counter-attack to retake the settlement, its recent seizure will place further pressure on Pokrovsk’s flanks. To add to this mounting pressure, geolocated footage published on 4 October indicated that Russian forces are advancing slowly into the southern outskirts of Pokrovsk itself, namely the city’s Zelenivka district.
• POKROVSK: Despite these recent gains for Moscow, Ukrainian counter-measures continue to limit Russian forces’ ability to make faster advances in the area. Ukraine’s 7th Rapid Reaction Corps reported on 3 October that Russian infantry casualties in the Pokrovsk area increased by 30% in September compared to August, while Ukraine’s interception of Shahed-type drones over Pokrovsk increased by 50% over the same period. The corps also reported that Ukrainian forces have been able to extend a so-called ‘kill zone’ in which they can launch and concentrate first-person view (FPV) drones (in tandem with artillery) several kilometres behind Russian positions. Such efforts, including recurrent Ukrainian counter-attacks, are slowing Russia’s advance; they are also likely increasing the costs for Russian forces trying to consolidate their recent gains in the area.
• RIVER CROSSINGS: Russian forces likely successfully carried out a small river-crossing involving the transfer of heavy military equipment in Donetsk; the operation came amid slow but steady advances in the Lyman direction. Geolocated footage posted on 4 October indicates that Russian forces were likely able to construct a makeshift bridge over the Zherebets River in the Lyman direction, enabling the transfer of at least five tanks, one infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and one self-propelled artillery system. Poor weather conditions reportedly complicated Ukrainian drone operations in the area, which highly likely facilitated the transfer.
• RIVER CROSSINGS: It is also possible that Russian forces have improved their river-crossing logistics, which constituted a major weakness during the earlier phases of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine (during which period Ukraine was able to strike heavily concentrated Russian equipment and troops successfully). Meanwhile, geolocated footage published on 5 October indicates that Russian forces likely carried out a FAB-300 glide-bomb strike on a bridge in Raihorodok (Donetsk) spanning the Siverskyi Donets River, indicating a relatively high level of precision. The co-ordination of this strike likely indicates that Russian forces are attempting to undermine Ukrainian reinforcements to the area as they increase their offensive momentum to the north-east of Lyman.
• GLIDE BOMBS: Russia has likely intensified its use of glide bombs (and possibly improved their accuracy) along various sectors of the frontline in recent weeks. A Ukrainian drone operator deployed in the Pokrovsk direction stated on 4 October that Russian forces have increased their use of glide bombs both on the frontline and at the Ukrainian rear; he also notably stated that the glide bombs have become more accurate, indicating possible technical improvements. Separately, a Ukrainian officer operating in the Kupiansk (Kharkiv oblast) direction reported on 4 October that Russian forces are consistently carrying out three glide bomb strikes each morning, which has rendered the Ukrainian rear – located approximately 12 miles (20km) from the frontline – less safe. The officer, did, however, note that train stations are not being attacked in Kupiansk, indicating that Russia highly likely aims to seize the town and to leverage it for logistical purposes to support future offensive operations in Kharkiv.
• STRIKES: Russia launched its largest combined strike to date against Lviv oblast in western Ukraine overnight on 4-5 October. The strike (which also hit targets outside the oblast) involved 53 missiles, including 42 Iskander-K cruise missiles, two Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles and nine Kalibr cruise missiles. In all, 496 Shahed-type and decoy drones were also launched. It is likely that Russia stockpiled missiles during September in order to employ such a significant number of projectiles. It is possible that Russia specifically targeted Lviv, as the city’s air defences are almost certainly thinner than those in the capital Kyiv. According to the Ukrainian air force, 39 missiles were intercepted while a further six were ‘lost in location’ – likely due to electronic warfare (EW) measures. In all, eight missiles therefore struck unspecified targets. Power supplies were disrupted, and an industrial park was damaged in Lviv city. Beyond Lviv, strikes were also recorded in Chernihiv, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
• STRIKES: Russia carried out its largest (combined) strike to date against Ukraine’s gas-production capacity overnight on 2-3 October, supporting our assessment that strikes are once again beginning to take place against energy infrastructure ahead of the winter. The CEO of the Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz, Serhiy Koretskyi, stated that Russia launched 35 missiles and 60 drones at the company’s sites in Kharkiv and Poltava oblasts; he stated that the attacks were the largest to take place against Ukraine’s gas-production sites so far. Koretskyi notably commented that a ‘significant portion’ of Naftogaz’s facilities were damaged, and that some of the destruction was ‘critical’. The attack underscores our assessment that Russia will almost certainly attempt to degrade Ukrainian energy infrastructure ahead of the coming winter in a bid to lower morale among the Ukrainian population and place stress on Ukraine’s defence-industrial capacity. Russia also struck targets in Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Odesa and Sumy oblasts on 2-3 October. The Russian strategy to degrade Ukraine’s energy security was further underlined earlier on 7 October when Russian strikes led to blackouts for customers in Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Kharkiv oblasts.
• STRIKES: Ukraine has reportedly started to use its domestically produced FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile, which will likely add to the effectiveness of Kyiv’s ‘deep strike’ campaign against Russian oil refineries. According to The Economist, the Ukrainian weapons manufacturer Fire Point is currently producing two-to-three FP-5s each day; production is set to increase to seven each day later in October. While the effectiveness of the FP-5 against Russian air defences remains unclear, the missile is reportedly equipped with significant capabilities. These include a range of over 1,864 miles (3,000km), as well as the ability to fly just 50m above the ground and to change course constantly so as to confuse air defence systems. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky likely alluded to the use of FP-5s on 6 October when he stated that Ukraine has exclusively used its own weapons, and not only drones, to strike targets in Russia in recent days.

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

• DRONES: Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof stated on 6 October that there is consensus among European countries that Russia is responsible for drone sightings over the continent, but that its involvement cannot be proven. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made similar remarks on 5 October after drones spotted in German airspace forced the temporary closure of Munich International Airport (MUC, Bavaria state) days beforehand. Drones have violated the airspace of several other European countries besides Germany in recent weeks (specifically Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Romania). However, despite the recent incidents, European countries are divided over plans to build a ‘drone wall’ along the EU’s eastern flank, as per reports from 2 October.
• DRONES: The former Russian president and Deputy Chair of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, stated on 6 October that the recent drone incidents served as a reminder to European nations about the ‘danger of war’. Medvedev did not state that Russia was behind the incursions (though we assess that Moscow was highly likely responsible for the majority of the incidents). Russian motives for orchestrating drone overflights likely include reconnoitring strategic infrastructure (i.e. airports, military sites and power plants) and testing the resolve of Western countries. Even if not all the incidents were directly linked to Russia, we assess that the disruption and alarm caused by the incursions have benefited Moscow, regardless. For further analysis on the implications of recent airspace incursions and suspicious drone activity across Europe, see Sibylline Situation Update Brief – 1 October 2025.
• SABOTAGE: Meanwhile, EU countries have agreed to limit the travel of Russian diplomats within the bloc in response to sabotage attempts. The Financial Times (FT) reported on the proposed rules earlier on 7 October, which, if implemented, would require Russian diplomats stationed in EU capitals to inform other EU governments if they plan to travel to these governments’ jurisdictions. EU security officials have warned that Russian intelligence operatives often use diplomatic cover to facilitate sabotage operations across borders. Nevertheless, a final decision to restrict Russian diplomats’ movements is unlikely to reduce suspected Russian sabotage substantially across EU countries over the coming months, partly due to Russia’s increased use of criminals and amateur agents to conduct such operations. We nevertheless assess that Moscow likely operates a significant number of Russian operatives across the continent, sustaining the threat of sabotage for the foreseeable future.
• NEGOTIATIONS: On 2 October, Russian President Vladimir Putin attempted to push Ukraine to engage in negotiations by emphasising Ukrainian manpower shortages and recruitment challenges. Putin also called on Ukrainian soldiers to flee or surrender and claimed, without providing evidence, that approximately 150,000 troops deserted Ukraine’s armed forces from January to August of this year; we assess this is unlikely to be accurate. Nevertheless, the shortage of personnel is (and will almost certainly remain) a key issue constraining Ukraine’s battlefield operations over the coming months. As such, Putin’s comments are highly likely aimed at weakening Ukrainian morale amid incremental Russian gains across the frontline, while also presenting the Russian president as both uncompromising and confident that Russia can continue fighting an attritional war for the foreseeable future.

FORECAST

AID: On 6 October, US President Donald Trump stated that he would want to know how Ukraine plans to use long-range Tomahawk missiles before agreeing to supply them due to concerns about escalating the Russo-Ukrainian war. Trump did not explicitly rule out their provision and stated that he had ‘sort of made a decision’ on the matter. Despite his comments, this does not necessarily increase the likelihood of Kyiv obtaining this capability in the near term (see Sibylline Ukraine Update – 2 October 2025). Reuters reported on 2 October that the provision of Tomahawk missiles is unlikely, as the US is committing current stocks to its navy (and various other uses). An unspecified US official suggested that other (and shorter-range) projectiles could be supplied to Ukraine without offering further details. The same official also stated that the US could consider allowing European allies to purchase other unnamed long-range weapons for Kyiv’s benefit rather than Tomahawk missiles. Ultimately, we assess that the US is likely to prioritise maintaining inventory levels for its navy, which is the primary user of Tomahawk missiles. Even if the US did choose to supply a limited number of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, Trump’s comments indicate that his administration would likely want to vet any possible strikes to avoid perceived escalation. This would likely constrain Ukraine’s ability to conduct long-range strikes, akin to the limitations the Biden administration imposed on Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and other such weapons. Such restrictions would possibly provide Russia with more time to move assets further from the range of Tomahawk missiles, where possible. Depending on the variant, the Tomahawk missile boasts a range of up to 1,550 miles (2,500km), which exceeds the capabilities of foreign-provided missiles currently in Ukraine’s possession. We assess that recent statements made by President Putin indicate that Russia is seeking to deter the US from providing Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. On 2 October, Putin implied that the provision of Tomahawk missiles would risk destroying the limited progress in restoring Russia-US relations; he also claimed that the missiles would offer few benefits for Ukraine’s war effort. Putin claimed that US military personnel would have to participate directly in Ukrainian strikes using Tomahawk missiles, which he stated would mark a ‘new stage of escalation’ – possibly an implied warning that US service personnel could be viewed as ‘legitimate military targets’ in this context. However, Russian officials have repeatedly warned of escalation despite previous discussions among Kyiv’s allies about whether to supply new capabilities to Ukraine, including US-made F-16 fighter jets, main battle tanks and Storm Shadow and ATACMS missiles. These talks did not provoke a direct military response from Russia. Yet while the provision of Tomahawks (or discussions thereof) would also be unlikely to provoke such a response, we assess that the Kremlin is clearly trying to deter this eventuality by ramping up threats of escalation. (Source: Sibylline)

 

09 Oct 25. Cuashub.com said today that Thales develops $10K laser-guided C-UAS rocket for Ukraine. Belgian defense firm Thales is developing a low-cost laser-guided rocket to help Ukraine counter Russian drone swarms, the latest development in an ongoing effort by EU members to supply affordable air defense systems. The 70mm FZ275 LGR is designed to detonate mid-air, releasing a cloud of tungsten fragments capable of destroying low-flying drones. Priced at under $10,000 per unit, the rocket offers a cost-effective alternative to advanced air defense systems like Patriot interceptors, which can cost millions per missile. The airburst warhead’s fragmenting effect makes it particularly suited for low-flying threats such as Iranian-made Shahed drones, which Russia has used extensively since 2022. Thales has accelerated production in response to Ukraine’s operational demands, with the system tested from platforms including helicopters and ground vehicles. Its laser guidance provides precision at ranges of up to 4.3 miles, allowing accurate strikes while reducing risks to civilian areas. Early feedback from Ukrainian operators suggests the rocket could integrate quickly into existing counter-drone strategies. The development reflects a wider NATO focus on scalable and affordable defenses. European allies, including Belgium and France, are supporting the effort to ensure Ukraine receives effective systems without straining their own stockpiles. The emphasis on affordability also responds directly to Russia’s reliance on cheap drones to exhaust high-value interceptors. Beyond Ukraine, the technology carries implications for European security more broadly. Defense officials have noted its potential role in protecting critical infrastructure and contributing to a proposed “drone wall” across NATO’s eastern borders. The rocket’s design, drawing on principles from anti-personnel munitions but optimized for aerial targets, has already attracted interest from other nations confronting drone threats. Challenges remain in scaling production, particularly with tungsten supply chains vulnerable to geopolitical disruption. However, Thales aims to expand output into the thousands annually, with future iterations potentially incorporating autonomous targeting features. The FZ275 LGR highlights how necessity is driving Europe toward cost-effective, asymmetric defenses that could redefine how allied forces counter unmanned aerial systems in the years ahead. https://cuashub.com/en/content/thales-develops-10k-laser-guided-c-uas-rocket-for-ukraine/ (Source: https://cuashub.com/

 

08 Sep 25. Ukraine Deploys Sea Drones with Fiber-Optic FPVs in Russian Port Strikes. Ukraine has reportedly developed a new type of unmanned surface vessel (USV) capable of carrying multiple fiber-optic First-Person View (FPV) drones. According to Defense Express, at least one of these drone boats took part in the September 24 Ukrainian strike in Russia’s Krasnodar region. Footage shared by Russian sources showed a captured Ukrainian sea drone carrying four FPV drones in hull compartments, each tethered to a spool of fiber-optic cable.  The video surfaced following a series of Ukrainian attacks that damaged oil terminals in Tuapse and Novorossiysk, temporarily disrupting port operations.  The development marks the first confirmed use of sea-launched, fiber-optic–controlled FPV drones by Ukraine.  Unlike radio-guided drones, the new system is immune to electronic warfare. Defense Express notes that “surface drone attacks are becoming increasingly complex for the Russians,” as they now must counter not only the “surface threat” but also “FPV-drone attacks that, using fiber-optics, can operate even when electronic warfare systems are active.” The use of fiber-optic FPV drones launched from drone boats was first hinted at earlier this year, when the Ukrainian Navy carried out a series of FPV drone strikes that destroyed two Pantsir-S1 and one Osa short-range air defense systems in Kherson Oblast, about 3.5 miles from the Black Sea coast. At the time, unconfirmed reports suggested that the Ukrainian Navy may have launched the FPV drones from drone boats in the Black Sea, allowing them to bypass roughly 45 miles of Russian-controlled territory and strike targets deep behind enemy lines. (Source: https://www.sofx.com/)

 

07 Oct 25. Ukraine: UK, US, EU parts found in Russian missiles. Thousands of Western components have been found in the wreckage from Russia’s weekend bombardment of Ukraine.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Western components, including from the UK, are being found in Russian munitions
• Other countries implicated include the US, the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and China
• Russia is continuing its bombardment of Ukrainian cities, with weekend attacks blanketing the country

For the second weekend running, air raid warnings were in effect across the entirety of Ukraine as hundreds of missiles and suicide drones were launched by Moscow. Whereas a week prior the missiles struck Kyiv and central and eastern cities, strikes over 4-5 October hit western region, including Lviv. However, a key disclosure on 6 October by the Ukrainian government revealed the presence of western components in Russia’s munitions, including from the UK, despite the heavy sanctions levied against Moscow as a result of its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. According to a release by the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a total of 549 drones and missiles were launched by Russia into Ukraine, containing over 100,000 foreign-made components sourced from companies in the US, China and Taiwan, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, and the Netherlands. (Source: army-technology.com)

 

07 Oct 25. Cuashub.com said today that Ukrainian forces showcase drone defense in Danish skies. Ukrainian military personnel demonstrated their counter-drone expertise in Danish airspace last week, successfully neutralizing multiple aerial targets during a joint defense exercise, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. During the live demonstration, Ukrainian specialists deployed a “Sting” drone, which intercepted and destroyed a Danish “Banshee” drone in flight. The event formed part of an exchange of battlefield experience between Ukrainian and Danish forces and was observed by representatives from several European countries. The interception, recorded on video, drew immediate interest from foreign counterparts, with Ukrainian operators reportedly fielding numerous inquiries afterward. The exercise coincided with the launch of “Wings of Defense,” a series of joint drills focused on countering aerial threats such as strike drones. The initiative underscores a broader effort to strengthen NATO and European defenses against unmanned systems. The showcase followed recent reports of unidentified drones operating near critical sites in Denmark in late September. The sightings sparked concern over potential Russian reconnaissance activity in the Baltic region, particularly after Danish authorities detected a Russian naval vessel operating near national waters during the same period. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen discussed the incidents last week, highlighting growing security risks. European partners have already begun reinforcing Denmark’s air defenses. France, Germany and Sweden deployed military personnel and anti-drone systems to the country after drone incursions led to temporary airport closures late last month. Norway’s police have also joined the mission, which includes France’s Fennec helicopter unit and specialized German and Swedish teams tasked with detecting and neutralizing aerial threats ahead of upcoming European summits in Copenhagen. Ukraine’s General Staff emphasized that its participation in Denmark is aimed at bolstering international cooperation in drone defense, a field where Ukraine has gained extensive operational experience throughout the ongoing war. https://cuashub.com/en/content/ukrainian-forces-showcase-drone-defense-in-danish-skies/ (Source: https://cuashub.com/

 

06 Oct 25. Ukraine “deploys rotating barbed wire fences to counter fibre-optic drones.” Militarnyi reports that the Ukrainian military has begun deploying special engineering barriers to prevent fibre-optic drones from flying beyond the frontline. The article pointed to footage posted by a Russian blogger, in which a Ukrainian soldier explains that the 150-metre rotating barbed wire fence is powered by a battery and controlled by a small controller. The fence breaks the drone’s fibre-optic cable by rotating the barb around its axis. The footage is no longer available. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)

 

02 Oct 25. The latest counter-UAS news from Ukraine. In this new section of Unmanned Airspace we provide a round-up of counter-UAS equipment and strategy news from the Ukrainian war, with original material and sources.

Equipment

New low-cost C-UAS Ukrainian intercept missiles have been in the news recently. At this week’s DroneX in London TechEx displayed two new low-cost C-UAS intercept drones –  the Stalker, a 350 km/h intercept drone with a range of 25km, a flight altitude of 4,000m and a target detection range of 500m and the Striker S, a 270km/h intercept missile, with a range of more than 20km, a flight altitude of 5,000m and a target detection range of more than 300m.

Meanwhile, Amazing Drones has developed a C-UAS intercept drone that autonomously detects and intercepts aerial targets at speeds up to 300 km/h. (Source)

Besomar recently developed a reusable interceptor drone equipped with a shotgun and an automated firing system (source: https://ukrainetoday.org/ukraine-creates-reusable-interceptor-drone-equipped-with-shotgun/). “According to the developers, in the current configuration, the system mounted on an aircraft-type interceptor drone allows for two shots, but this number can be increased to four if necessary…. According to the developers, their interceptor can neutralize drones at speeds up to 200 km/h, including Gerbera UAVs that fly at 100-130 km/h and various types of reconnaissance UAVs. Since the interceptor is equipped with a digital communication system with a frequency response function, it can approach the target and hit it unnoticed by the evasion systems installed on Russian drones. A feature of the system is that it can fire at the target not only manually but also automatically.”

UkrDefense unveiled its upgraded Gaarpia interceptor drone at the IT Arena 2025 expo, reports DefenderMedia. Gaarpia features a modular design that can be quickly assembled at the launch site. “It is catapult-launched, capable of reaching speeds of up to 200 km/h, operating at altitudes of up to 5,000 metres, and remaining airborne for up to 100 minutes.” The same news source also announced Piranha Tech at the IT Arena 2025 conference launched the high-speed Shahed interceptor Hunter and the manoeuvrable drone Riki, developed primarily to intercept enemy reconnaissance drones.

In more novel C-UAS initiatives, Ukrainian forces have started to deploy stretched, rotating barbed-wire defences in key logistical areas to cut the cords of Russian FPV drone cable which run along the ground (Source). And Ukrainian BTR-3 armored personnel carriers have been upgraded with specialized anti-drone protection “cope cages” designed to counter the widespread use of unmanned aerial vehicles on the battlefield, according to Defense Express.

Policies, programmes and strategy

“In addition to offering air defense training to the country’s allies, Ukraine is also ready to help NATO partners identify and procure the necessary defensive tools to combat Russian drones,” according to an Atlantic Council blog.  “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently stressed that nobody in the world has enough missiles to shoot down the large volumes of drones currently being deployed by the Kremlin. Instead, a more eclectic approach is needed, featuring ground-based air defenses and jet fighters together with defensive drones, helicopter patrols, and propeller planes”.

Ukraine is now able to down around 90% of incoming Russian drones, even on days when massive barrages happen, such as 7 September when Moscow launched its largest ever attack against Ukraine, firing 810 Shahed-type drones, according to the Ukrainian president.

Ukrainian military specialists have travelled to Denmark to take part in joint counter-drone exercises, following reports of drone incursions in the country. The “Wings of Defense” training will bring together Ukrainian and Danish forces to practice countermeasures against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)

 

06 Oct 25. Milrem Robotics to Deliver over 150 THeMIS UGVs to Ukraine in a Dutch-Led Defence Initiative​. Milrem Robotics—the world’s leading robotics and autonomous systems developer—will deliver over 150 THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to Ukraine as part of a donation funded and coordinated by the Netherlands. A significant portion of these vehicles will be assembled and delivered in collaboration with VDL Defentec. The donation was initially announced in September, however, the identity of the contributing country was not disclosed. On 6 October, the Dutch Minister of Defence, Ruben Brekelmans, joined Milrem Robotics and VDL for a formal announcement and signing ceremony at VDL’s facility in Born to mark the agreement. The deliveries will be executed by Milrem Robotics Netherlands in close cooperation with VDL Defentec, which is establishing a dedicated final assembly line at its Born facility. The assembly setup is designed for scalability, enabling further production and deliveries in response to future requirements. Milrem Robotics will deliver comprehensive training to Ukrainian operators and support staff to ensure efficient deployment and maintenance in the field.

“We are honoured to lead this project in partnership with the Netherlands and VDL. The THeMIS platform has already demonstrated its value under combat conditions, and we believe this contribution will materially strengthen Ukraine’s defence capability,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics.

“This initiative highlights the strength of cooperation between partners in Europe’s defence industry and their ability to scale up and contribute directly to international security. Establishing the assembly line in Born supports this donation and creates a foundation for future production and innovation between Milrem Robotics and VDL in the Netherlands,” said Willem van der Leegte, CEO of VDL Groep.

The new units will add to the 15 THeMIS vehicles already in operation in Ukraine, which have been proving their effectiveness on the battlefield since 2022. THeMIS is a proven and highly adaptable unmanned vehicle platform designed to support dismounted forces, logistics, reconnaissance, and combat support missions. It is currently part of robotics programmes or in service in 19 countries, making it the most widely deployed UGV in its class.

 

06 Oct 25. Drone Deal with Ukraine to Give US Access to Battlefield Tech. A Ukrainian team was in Washington last week to craft a landmark agreement with the Trump administration that would involve Kyiv sharing its battle-tested drone technology with the U.S. in exchange for royalties or other forms of compensation, according to officials from both countries. The prospective deal, which has the backing of President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, would mark a milestone in the security relationship between Washington and Kyiv. For years, the Ukrainian military has received U.S. weapons, most recently under an arrangement in which the Trump administration sells arms to European nations that are donating them to Kyiv. Under the new deal, Ukraine would draw on its extensive experience in producing and using drones to battle the Russian military. A team of Ukrainians, led by the country’s Deputy Defense Minister Sergiy Boyev, began several days of talks in Washington with Pentagon and State Department officials on Tuesday. Finalizing the detailed agreement, which could be worth bns of dollars, is likely to take months, a U.S. government official said. While the U.S. companies make some sophisticated drones, the Ukrainians are well ahead in mass producing cheap unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, that have proved to be effective in battle.

“It is just a reality that we need Ukrainian drone tech in the U.S.,”

said William McNulty, a partner at UA1, a U.S. venture-capital fund, which has invested in eight Ukrainian defense companies.

The potential deal also has political significance as Kyiv looks to solidify ties with Trump, whose support for Ukraine has sometimes been erratic. Trump has become increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to step up attacks on Ukraine while rebuffing White House appeals to negotiate a peace settlement, which has also opened the door to more U.S. and Ukrainian cooperation. The drone agreement is emerging as part of a package that would include a separate “megadeal” in which Ukraine is hoping to purchase tens of bns of dollars in arms from the U.S., Zelensky said Saturday. Ukraine is hoping that the arms deal includes long-range missiles to expand its striking power against Russia. The potential drone deal also highlights how much the U.S. industry can benefit from Ukraine, which has pioneered new technologies, tactics, as well as the ability to rapidly incorporate innovations for a changing battlefield. With the war in Ukraine rewriting how nations fight, governments, investors and companies in Europe have already been rushing to capitalize on Ukraine’s drone technology. A U.S. government official said the drone deal is designed to allow U.S. forces to capitalize on Ukraine’s competitive advantage in UAVs. In turn, Kyiv is seeking to pay for high-end American weapons. He was referring to the Patriot antimissile system, the Himars launchers that fire GMLRS rockets and Army Tactical Missile Systems, or Atacms, and the Air Force’s multirole fighter. The U.S. and Ukraine are exploring several different mechanisms for facilitating drone technology transfer from Kyiv to the U.S., according to people familiar with the talks. They include deals in which Ukrainian companies provide drone technology and prototypes to American companies in exchange for a royalty or an arrangement in which a Ukrainian company establishes a subsidiary in the U.S. to produce drones. Another possibility is buying the drones directly from Ukraine for the U.S. military. Any accord over drone technology will have to facilitate access to technology and systems from private Ukrainian drone companies. There are more than 300 drone companies in the country, according to the Ukrainian Council of Gunsmiths, a trade organization. The widespread use of Chinese parts in Ukrainian drones is one problem that needs to be managed. U.S. companies that acquire Ukrainian drones and technologies can’t use Chinese components because of the imperative of having secure supply lines. (Source: UAS VISION/The Wall Street Journal)

 

04 Oct 25. The mini-missiles designed to ram Putin’s drones out of the sky. Low-cost interceptor that can be fired from a hand-held cannon could become a powerful part of the EU’s defence capabilities Russian drones flying over airports could be punched out of the sky by a new Swedish defence system which is 16,000 times cheaper than a fighter jet. Nordic Air Defence (NAD), a Stockholm-based tech firm, is building the low-cost mini-missile which uses “kinetic force” to knock out drones whirring over critical infrastructure, such as airports and factories, as seen across EU airspace in recent weeks. The Kreuger 100 interceptor uses infrared sensors to hunt down hostile drones and ram them out of the sky at high speed, making it much safer to use in civilian areas than explosive projectiles.

“These airport incursions are the perfect example of why protecting public spaces against drones needs a more sophisticated solution than just ‘shooting them down’,” Karl Rosander, the chief executive of NAD, told The Telegraph.

“We’re building a small, electricity-driven interceptor which is only kinetic. It doesn’t have any warheads or explosives, it knocks the drone down by coming at high speed. This means police can use it in civil environments,” he said.

“We don’t want to be shooting explosives over airports, so this would be perfect for what happened in Denmark. You avoid shooting expensive missiles, and burning fragments over civilian infrastructure,” Mr Rosander added.

EU-wide drone menace

European Union leaders are urgently looking for ways to defend their airports after a string of suspected Russian drone incursions in Denmark, Norway and Germany. Their main challenge is safety, as shooting down drones with powerful missiles over civilian areas creates the risk of death, injuries and damage to key infrastructure. Another major concern is cost: Russian drones can cost as little as £1,000 each, whereas Nato’s current tactic of scrambling fighter jets, as it did with success in Poland, is enormously expensive by comparison.

“It is unacceptable to shoot down drones costing one or two thousand dollars with missiles that may cost half a m or even a m dollars,” Mark Rutte, the secretary general of Nato, warned this week.

The key advantage of Mr Rosander’s Kreuger system is that its estimated cost is as little as $5,000 (£3,700), a fraction of the price of the F-15 and F-35 Nato fighter jets used to destroy drones over Poland last month.

A mobile anti-drone solution

Concept imagery showed the missiles could be launched in several ways – from a hand-held cannon, a rifle-like device, launch crates that contain projectiles, or vehicle-mounted systems. It would also be beneficial in a war zone, such as Ukraine, where drones are a constant threat to ground troops and hardware. The system would allow soldiers to take out bomb-laden FPV (first person view) drones that are increasingly difficult to jam or shoot out of the sky.

CGI footage showing the NAD missiles being fired from a vehicle-mounted system

The anti-drone systems currently used in Ukraine are also a military variant with an explosive warhead, rather than a kinetic missile which knocks them to the ground. CGI footage released by the firm showed a battlefield scenario in which two quadcopter FPV drones carrying bombs are closing in on a military convoy. A vehicle on the ground, armed with the kinetic missiles, is shown launching the projectiles from a vehicle-mounted system to intercept and destroy the drones before they could reach their target. (Source: Daily Telegraph)

 

03 Oct 25. Former Ukrainian PM says security guarantees won’t work.

Only Article 5 of the Washington Treaty will provide credible security, he stated, while highlighting the need for the joint defence of Europe.

• Former Ukrainian PM said Western security guarantees would be unworkable.
• Membership in Nato and the ability to implement article five is the only credible security, he said in a speech at RUSI on 2 October.
• Resilience is the main concern among European leaders at present as they seek to apply Ukrainian air defence solutions across the continent.

Describing his strategic vision for Europe at the Royal United Services Institute in London, the former prime minister of Ukraine, Arsenyiy Yatsenyuk, dismissed the offer of security guarantees by the West as unworkable. There has been widespread speculation of what future negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, brokered by the United States, might look like over the past several months. Particularly as Russia’s summer offensive ebbs after Ukraine claims to have liberated 160 square kilometres around the strategic towns of Pokrovsk and Dobropillia in the Donetsk region. UK prime minister Keir Starmer and other allies in the so-called ‘coalition of the willing’ are committed to putting ‘boots on the ground’ in the form of a half-baked peace-keeping mission to bolster Ukraine’s security as part of any prospective settlement. (Source: army-technology.com)

 

03 Oct 25. British-Ukrainian Trypillian Unveils Tactical UAV Family Featuring Modular Strike and Recon Platforms. The British-Ukrainian developer Trypillian has unveiled a new family of tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, outlining a modular suite of platforms intended for strike, reconnaissance, communications relay and battlefield logistics. In a statement to Militarnyi on September 30 the company noted that, alongside the initial rollout of four tactical platforms, it is simultaneously developing additional systems—most notably a Deep-Strike drone now in the final stage of field trials. Trypillian says its engineering effort pairs hardware and software to deliver solutions for long-reach strikes, battlefield communications and frontline payload delivery. The lineup opens with an FPV model: a lightweight, cost-effective platform produced in multiple sizes and capable of reaching a top speed of 90 km/h. Next is a relay-carrier variant designed to extend tactical communications in field conditions, with an operational radius of roughly 12 km. According to Militarnyi, the family also includes the Bomber—a multipurpose strike platform whose ground control station is neatly integrated into a transport case for ease of movement and rapid deployment. Rounding out the quartet is a VTOL system (vertical take-off and landing) tailored for reconnaissance and missions in terrain with limited runway space; its maximum operational ceiling is listed at 3,500m. Trypillian emphasises close collaboration with combat units, saying that direct frontline feedback allows rapid iterations of both airframe design and onboard software logic. The company plans to trial the UAV family in joint operations with Ukrainian units under real combat conditions while continuing refinement of its deep-strike system, which remains in active field testing.

“With tactical UAVs our goal is to establish ourselves as an end-to-end defense solutions integrator. Tactical drones are not the product, tactical drones are the process. “Killzone” is the product,” says Ivan Matveichenko, CEO of Trypillian.

Beyond hardware, Trypillian supplies integrated packages that include equipment, software, distributed manufacturing processes and an operational doctrine—components the company says are essential to building a robust perimeter of deterrence against contemporary threats, Militarnyi reported. (Source: UAS VISION/UNITED24MEDIA0

 

03 Oct 25. Cuashub.com said today that Russia deploys mobile C-UAS as Ukrainian drone strikes cripple fuel production. Russia is deploying mobile counter-drone units to defend its energy infrastructure after a series of Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries triggered the country’s most severe gasoline shortage in three decades. The development comes as a response to an ongoing campaign of Ukrainian long-range drone strikes, capable of traveling hundreds of kilometers, which are degrading refining capacity at an unsustainable rate. Estimates suggest that 20–25 percent of Russia’s refining output is now offline, leaving supply chains disrupted and fueling shortages not seen since the 1990s. According to footage shared on Russian social media channels, the new units are equipped with light pickup trucks, including modified GAZelle and UAZ “Farmer” vehicles, fitted with twin-mounted heavy machine guns. The formations are intended to intercept and destroy slow-moving drones before they can reach refineries and other critical sites. Officials in Moscow have framed the deployment as an urgent step to protect vital infrastructure. But military analysts say the units will have limited impact, describing them as “last-resort detachments” rather than a comprehensive approach to air defense. Small arms fire, even when mounted on mobile platforms, is effective only against low-altitude drones. Many Ukrainian systems fly above that range, reducing the likelihood of successful interception. Ukraine has used similar mobile anti-drone groups in recent years, though their effectiveness has been questioned. Drone operators have adapted by altering flight paths and operating at higher altitudes, bypassing ground-based fire. Kyiv has increasingly shifted toward using interceptor drones, systems designed to chase and destroy enemy UAS mid-flight, which have proven more effective against platforms such as the Iranian-designed Shahed and Russian domestic Geran variants. The Kremlin’s decision to adopt mobile counter-drone teams suggests concern of the effectiveness of current counter-drone strategies in safeguarding fuel production. Ukraine’s campaign against Russian refineries, now in its fourth year, has struck facilities deep inside Russian territory and forced Moscow to look for rapid but imperfect defensive measures. While the deployment highlights how drone warfare continues to reshape both sides’ strategies, experts warn the pickup-mounted gun units are unlikely to reverse the trend of successful Ukrainian strikes. Instead, they represent a stopgap effort to buy time while longer-term countermeasures are developed. https://cuashub.com/en/content/russia-deploys-mobile-c-uas-as-ukrainian-drone-strikes-cripple-fuel-production/ (Source: https://cuashub.com/

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