Ukraine strikes at the very heart of the Russian space program. https://t.co/YzcYwx5whw

— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) August 15, 2026

agent-maroon said:

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Ukraine copied China's technology without paying for it and are now using it against their partner's interests? lol at the irony of that move.

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Agreed. Reading about the Uke's Chinese'ing the Chinese really makes my socks go up and down…

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IMO, we should find ways to pressure Russia to wind down instead of trying to create a safe space for them so as to mitigate economic impact and corresponding political blowback.

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What happens to Putin when the war ends? Particularly if it's a loss?

Answer that and you will understand why Putin will never stop.

Domodedovo warehouse ablaze pic.twitter.com/Ewz77aJCaU

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) August 16, 2026

Gutsy run by the commander and that must have been a memorably painful ride for the wounded.

🙏 Two Ukrainian soldiers suffered open fractures after a successful assault. During the evacuation of ground drone, FPV drone attacked, and the wounded soldiers were left in the open air.

Seeing this, Vladyslav Polsky, the commander of the assault company of the 475th regiment… pic.twitter.com/KfTfGWIpCb

— MAKS 26 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) August 16, 2026

A pretty wild still image from a video of it burning. I believe the Koledina WB location is the largest one by square footage.

Seen a lot of Russians quite upset now on social media about these strikes and losing their product. If they can ignore the drunks and homeless disappearing, it is harder to ignore all the impacts to their wallets.

This has to be affecting the remaining warehouses at this point. Who wants their stuff going up in flames next?

Holy moly.

🇺🇦23:35 | 16/08

Approximate flight routes of our UAVs:

🔴Red arrows — directions of strike UAV movement;

According to Russian sources, around 420 drones were reported, though these estimates and the displayed routes remain highly approximate. pic.twitter.com/vPqSEZANzD

— DroneBomber (@DrnBmbr) August 16, 2026

You've seen the clip: one FPV, one tank, instant kill. What you didn't see were the twenty-four strikes before it.

Russia's Arena-M active protection systems are working. Rob Lee on what edited drone footage systematically hides from Western analysts. pic.twitter.com/gYefMxph51

— JP Lindsley | Journalist (@JPLindsley) August 17, 2026

🔵 It increasingly looks like Bankova is putting obstacles in Mykhailo Drapatyi’s way.

The new Commander-in-Chief has a significant reserve of public trust — but apparently is not being allowed to fully build his own team in the General Staff.

According to Boryslav Bereza,… pic.twitter.com/mqBkz7jUMK

— Olena Rohoza (@OlenaRohoza) August 17, 2026

Yes it takes 20 FPV drones to stop a tank but that is still a good investment. Lose 0 soldiers, spend low six figures to take out a seven figure tank.

That is the change in warfare, in the past you would have to have air or ground superiority to take out a tank. Now you just throw drone after drone at it until one finally takes it out.

Exactly. 20 to one is still a very favorable exchange ratio--economically and operationally--for cheap FPV drones.

Ukraine estimates it expends ~10,000 drones of all three classes every day--mostly losses and misses--and their use nonetheless still dominates the war.

I am not sure that it consistently takes 20 drones for a single tank. And I would be willing to bet that Ukraine will adapt and shrink that number considerably, if Russia doesn't run out of tanks first.

But that's like any cheap munition.

He said 10 to 20 and I agree that its not a bad thing at all from Ukraine's perspective. The cost difference is astounding.

Industry still balking at allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles.

"The race toward competition is problematic for the defense giants, the official said, not because Ukraine might steal the Patriot, but because the country's partners might outbuild it, cutting into the current monopoly on antiballistic capabilities and profits."

LICENSE

This despite Zelensky offering to agree to any contract conditions.

"Zelensky told CNN he has offered Raytheon and Lockheed Martin full ownership and control of any interceptor manufacturing plant the companies would permit inside Ukraine.

"It will be your company," Zelensky recalled telling the manufacturers. "It will be our brains, our hands, our engineers. And I will do my best to build the great company… for them. Because I don't need to sell [the interceptors] to anybody else. I need for my country."

DESPERATION

TBH, they have some legitimate concerns regarding corruption and secrets. Even if Ukraine agrees to whatever US companies want, that won't stop individuals associated with production from trying to make some money themselves, and Russia has deep pockets and easier access to Ukrainians than Americans.

ABATTBQ11 said:

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TBH, they have some legitimate concerns regarding corruption and secrets. Even if Ukraine agrees to whatever US companies want, that won't stop individuals associated with production from trying to make some money themselves, and Russia has deep pockets and easier access to Ukrainians than Americans.

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Then those concerns need to be addressed, but industry needs to find a way to be part of the solution instead of adding to the problem. I tend to agree with the article which says our companies mostly fear the potential competition.

That's on Ukraine though. If they don't have an adequate security environment, you can't just lay it on some conspiracy that US defense companies are afraid of being one upped. They have a lot invested in these weapons, and they're not going to just license them out to anyone.

Will have to go to X to view due to "sensitive content".

🇺🇦🇺🇸❗️ US intelligence has warned the Ukrainian authorities about the high probability of massive shelling of Kyiv and the region in the next 48 hours, — Ukraine Context.

— MAKS 26 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) August 18, 2026

Russian billionaires “chipped in” $4.5 billion for Putin

In the spring, the dictator called on big business to voluntarily help replenish the state budget, which was facing a record deficit.

By mid-August, companies and businessmen had already transferred nearly 384 billion… pic.twitter.com/N8XPc97xHi

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) August 18, 2026

Rossticus said:

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Russian billionaires “chipped in” $4.5 billion for Putin

In the spring, the dictator called on big business to voluntarily help replenish the state budget, which was facing a record deficit.

By mid-August, companies and businessmen had already transferred nearly 384 billion… pic.twitter.com/N8XPc97xHi

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) August 18, 2026

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Looks like the commoners do not want to keep funding it with their money either.

Russians withdraw billions from banks amid fears Putin could seize deposits

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Russian billionaires "chipped in" $4.5 billion for Putin

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Putin has created many oligarchs during his reign, but he keeps them on a tight leash. Pay up - usually to him personally - or go to jail. Simple choice.

sam callahan said:

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Russian billionaires "chipped in" $4.5 billion for Putin

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Putin has created many oligarchs during his reign, but he keeps them on a tight leash. Pay up - usually to him personally - or go to jail. Simple choice.

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They usually have 3 choices. Gulag, tea, or window. All equally unappealing.

If you're a Russian who opposes the Russian government, you don't last long.

⚠️ Sergei Vlasenko, a member of the Congress of People’s Deputies, was found dead in Warsaw

Vlasenko’s body, with a head injury, was discovered by his roommate, who is also a member of the Congress. People who knew him suspect that his death may have been violent.

Vlasenko had… pic.twitter.com/vlqyPB2J58

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) August 18, 2026

Ukraine continues to design and produce its own munitions and weapons to reduce dependance on foreign suppliers.

Ukraine had no guided aerial bomb. Now it does.

DG Industry, a Brave1 participant, has completed all required trials and declared the weapon ready for combat after 17 month of development. The bomb carries a 250 kg warhead, hits targets dozens of kilometers behind enemy lines,… pic.twitter.com/EXP0PiLOHl

— BRAVE1 (@BRAVE1ua) May 18, 2026

DETAILS

I thought that was Fauci.....

I'd have traded him for Fauci…

⚡️ Tens of thousands are fleeing Russia

A record 20,000 people crossed the legendary border checkpoint with Georgia in just 24 hours.

At Verkhny Lars, queues stretched to two and a half hours, forcing border guards to urgently reinforce their shifts and call in extra personnel… pic.twitter.com/tjQ43GLDFA

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) August 19, 2026

2/ The 2022 echo is hard to ignore
In September 2022, after Putin’s partial mobilization, Verkhny Lars became the symbol of Russians fleeing the country. Multi-day queues, men with suitcases and bicycles, cars stuck for kilometers.
Today’s images of slow-moving traffic and… pic.twitter.com/C3xLxr41Jm

— AirVector (@airpower33) August 19, 2026

4/ Other indicators of manpower pressure

Voluntary contract recruitment has fallen sharply in 2026 (down more than 30% in some comparisons).
Estimated Russian casualties remain very high (tens of thousands per month).

Covert pressure tactics (street roundups, “voluntary”…

— AirVector (@airpower33) August 19, 2026

6/
Verifiable fact: traffic at Verkhny Lars is at multi-year highs and the checkpoint is under strain.

Contested claim: it is a mass Russian citizen flight driven by imminent mobilization.

Most plausible reading: a mix of seasonal tourism, residual 2022 trauma, and genuine…

— AirVector (@airpower33) August 19, 2026

Massive hit on Kyiv.

‼️🚀 The Russians used at least 13 hypersonic Tsircon missiles, 8 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, and 2 North Korean-made KH-23 ballistic missiles to strike Kyiv

People are trapped in a shelter in Solomyanskyi district, — Klitschko.

The premises of a children's hospital were…

— MAKS 26 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) August 19, 2026

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The premises of a children's hospital were also damaged. Windows were broken, cars are burning in the area.

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Waffledynamics said:

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Massive hit on Kyiv.

‼️🚀 The Russians used at least 13 hypersonic Tsircon missiles, 8 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, and 2 North Korean-made KH-23 ballistic missiles to strike Kyiv

People are trapped in a shelter in Solomyanskyi district, — Klitschko.

The premises of a children's hospital were…

— MAKS 26 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) August 19, 2026

Quote:

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The premises of a children's hospital were also damaged. Windows were broken, cars are burning in the area.

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This is absolutely horrible, if the West used the weapons we have against Russia they would be begging us to stop shelling them. This will all change as soon as Ukraine gets there own ballistic missiles and Ukraine starts shelling them back with missiles the Russians can't stop. Until then Russia will try to muscle Ukraine into giving up.

2026 and the world is at those point

For those wanting some information on hypersonic missiles and who has them and who is already using them this article explains it pretty well. Looks like the US may be behind on these type weapons, but that tells me we probably have other options on the table

https://militarymachine.com/hypersonic-weapons-explained