Russian military
Coverage of Russian military in the Nexus archive.
- Russian strikes kill 20, exposing Ukraine’s air-defense shortage
Russia attacked Ukraine with missiles and drones, killing 20 people and exposing Kyiv’s shortage of U.S.-made interceptors. Ukraine’s military failed to intercept most of the 23 ballistic missiles, highlighting vulnerabilities as NATO summit discussions on defense support approach.
- Expelled AfD Lawmaker Noah Krieger Joins Russian Army in Ukraine
A former AfD lawmaker named Noah Krieger, also known as Murad Dadayev, has shared combat footage from Ukraine, hinting at joining the Russian military. He was expelled from the party after investigations revealed his ties with Chechnya’s Kadyrov regime.
- Zelensky denies Russia captured key Ukraine city, challenges Putin to meet him there
Ukraine's President Zelensky and military leadership claim continued control of Kostiantynivka, rejecting Russian assertions of capture. Russian forces report securing the city and are addressing remaining resistance, while offering to exchange deceased soldiers' remains.
- Russian Superyacht Relocates to Murmansk as Submarines Receive Anti-Drone Defenses
A $135 million superyacht linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin, equipped with anti-drone nets, is moving toward Murmansk along the Norwegian coast while escorted by Russian naval vessels. UK intelligence reports indicate Russian military installations of anti-drone cages on Kilo-class submarines in Novorossiysk following Ukrainian strikes on Russian naval infrastructure.
- Ukrainian drones hit St Petersburg oil terminal in latest long-range attack on Russia
Ukrainian drones attacked an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, Russia, as part of ongoing strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. The attack caused casualties and political pressure on the Kremlin, with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy framing it as targeting Russian war funding. Russian officials reported 72 drones shot down, while Putin dismissed the strikes as non-critical.
- Putin shrugs off fuel shortages in Russia as he ramps up attacks on Ukraine
Despite severe fuel shortages in Russia due to Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries, President Vladimir Putin dismisses the impact and continues military operations in Ukraine. The attacks have reduced gasoline production, leading to rationing and lower-quality fuel, with Crimea experiencing the worst shortages.
- SBU Opens Criminal Case Against Russian General Staff Chief Gerasimov
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Prosecutor General’s Office have opened a criminal case against Russian military’s Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. Investigators allege he organized aerial strikes on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, including an attack on Kyiv that killed at least 30 people.
- Russians’ Gloom Over Economy and Living Standards Reaches 20-year High
Gallup polling reveals 60% of Russians report worsening local conditions and 56% cite declining living standards, with trust in the military dropping to 66% from 80% in 2022. In Ukraine, support for US leadership has sharply declined, and a majority now favors negotiating an end to the war over pursuing victory.
- Syrskyi: Russian Maps Show False Advances to Please Top Command
Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that Russian military reports exaggerate battlefield advances by marking settlements as captured even after small assault groups are repelled. Ukraine claims to have a more accurate real-time understanding of the battlefield due to Moscow’s distorted command picture.
- Ukraine's war drone pilots must first survive the 'Killhouse'
Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade runs the Killhouse Academy, an intensive drone training program for Ukrainian soldiers and foreign volunteers to master combat drone operations. The training focuses on skills like evading defenses, handling jamming, and adapting to Russian tactics, emphasizing that skilled operators can turn cheap drones into effective asymmetric weapons in warfare.
- Drone Strikes Ignite Fires at Russia’s Slavyansk Refinery and Crimean Power Plant
Drones struck energy infrastructure in southern Russia and occupied Crimea overnight, causing fires at the Slavyansk oil refinery and a Crimean power plant. The refinery, a key supplier of fuel for the Russian military and occupied territories, experienced fires at fuel reservoirs and a gas stabilization unit, confirmed by satellite imagery and open-source intelligence.
- Ukraine May Be on the Cusp of a Turning Point in Its War Against Russia
Ukraine's military resiliency, weapons production ingenuity, and growing military prowess are challenging Russian advances, making it impossible for Moscow to claim victory. The article highlights Ukraine's strategic advantage in an asymmetrical war by focusing on avoiding defeat rather than achieving offensive success.
- Russian Military Recruitment Falls Across Country
Russian military recruitment has significantly declined nationwide, according to a report by independent outlet Verstka. Sources indicate recruitment targets are becoming harder to meet despite increased financial incentives.
- Ukraine Strikes Henichesk Strait Bridge and Russian Military Targets
Ukrainian forces struck a bridge over the Henichesk Strait and Russian military targets on June 20. The attacks targeted logistics routes, a Pantsir-S anti-aircraft system, and UAV command posts in multiple regions.
- Ukraine's point system rewarding battlefield kills is steering drone units toward more strategic Russian targets
Ukraine's 'e-Points' system rewards soldiers for hitting strategic Russian targets, enabling units to purchase drones and military gear. The system incentivizes targeting rear-area infrastructure and logistics, shifting focus from immediate frontline threats to high-value objectives.
- Deadly Russian strikes set landmark Kyiv monastery ablaze
Russian strikes killed at least 11 people in Ukraine and ignited a fire at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO-listed Orthodox monastery. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy condemned the attack as a crime against Christian culture, while Russia claimed the site was hit by a U.S. air defense missile. Ukraine reported intercepting 50 missiles and 582 drones during the assault.
- EU says China trained Russian troops as bloc weighs tougher stance on Beijing
The EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas confirmed reports that China's military has trained Russian troops for combat in Ukraine, prompting the bloc to assess implications and consider sanctions against Chinese entities. The EU foreign ministers agreed to take action amid rising tensions between the two sides.
- A top Ukrainian interceptor drone maker learned that faster isn't always better when hunting Russian Shaheds
Wild Hornets, a Ukrainian company, developed the Sting interceptor drone to counter Russian Shahed-type attack drones. Engineers initially prioritized speed but later reduced it to increase loitering time, enhancing combat reliability and mission readiness.
- Ukraine hits fuel supplies to Crimea, sparking a fuel crisis on the Russian-held peninsula
Ukrainian drone strikes targeting fuel supplies to Crimea have triggered a fuel crisis on the Russian-held peninsula, with attacks on refineries, depots, pipelines, and tanker trucks disrupting the land corridor from Russia. The Kremlin has acknowledged the crisis, which threatens tourism during the summer season and highlights Ukraine's ability to disrupt Russian operations.
- Khodorkovsky Jailed 10 Years in Absentia Over ‘War Fakes’
Khodorkovsky was sentenced to 10 years in prison in absentia for allegedly spreading 'war fakes' about the Russian military's actions in Ukraine. Prosecutors accused him of sharing knowingly false information on social media.
- Russia Air-Lifts Pantsir Missile System Onto Moscow Residential High-Rise
The Russian military installed a Pantsir-SMD-E missile system on the roof of a high-rise residential building in Moscow's Sokolniki district via helicopter on June 5. The system, modified to intercept miniature loitering munitions, was placed atop the 'House in Sokolniki' residential complex.
- Russia's tactics in Ukraine reach a new hellish low as troops are forced to crawl for miles through underground pipes - with a life expectancy of ten minutes at the other end
Russian troops in Ukraine are being forced to crawl through underground pipes under heavy fire, with a reported life expectancy of ten minutes at the exit. This tactic highlights the escalating brutality and danger faced by soldiers in the ongoing conflict.
- Exiled Belarus opposition leader visits Ukraine as Kyiv warns of escalation
Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Kyiv amid Ukrainian warnings of Russian plans to involve Belarus more in the war. The visit followed a major Russian strike on Kyiv that killed four and damaged historical sites, with further attacks threatened.
- Kyiv’s Hornet Drones Attack Key Russian Supply Road Deep Behind Lines
Ukrainian Hornet drones have destroyed Russian trucks, fuel tankers, and military vehicles on key southern highways to Crimea, disrupting logistics and exposing weaknesses in Russian air defenses. The attacks have prompted travel advisories, angered motorists, and complicated Russian supply lines.
- Ukraine Launches Database of Russian Recruiters as Moscow Seeks 18,500 More Foreign Fighters
Ukraine has launched a database to expose Russian recruitment of foreign fighters for the war, revealing over 28,000 foreigners signed contracts with the Russian military, with 5,149 confirmed killed. Moscow aims to recruit an additional 18,500 foreign fighters.
- Night Flights in Moscow, FSB on the Beach, Mad Scientists
Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Moscow, targeting critical infrastructure including a semiconductor plant, oil refinery, and fuel pumping station. Ukrainian forces also made territorial gains near Lyman and Zaporizhzhia, struck Russian naval assets in the Caspian Sea, and reduced Russian fuel production by 20%.
- At least four killed in Kyiv airstrikes as Zelenskyy claims hypersonic missile used during attacks
At least four people were killed in Kyiv following Russian airstrikes, with President Zelenskyy alleging the use of a hypersonic missile during the attacks. A trade center was among the targets, as confirmed by the provided imagery.
- Ukraine bracing for ‘significant air attack’ from Russian hypersonic missiles — day after Putin orders military to prep retaliations options
Ukraine is preparing for a potential significant air attack using Russian hypersonic missiles, following a directive from Russian President Vladimir Putin to military forces to ready retaliation options. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the threat, calling it 'Russian madness' on social media.
- Russia ‘looking for new soldiers’; Kyiv claims 83,000 dead so far in 2026
Ukrainian officials claim Russia has suffered 83,000 military deaths in 2026 and is struggling to recruit new soldiers. Independent estimates suggest Russia's economy is deteriorating as the conflict continues.
- ‘Whoever Controls Mala Tokmachka Controls the World’: How the Battle for a Ukrainian Village Became a Meme
The battle for Mala Tokmachka, a Ukrainian village, has become the subject of internet memes despite repeated Russian claims of capturing it. Russia's declarations of success in controlling the village have failed to materialize, but have instead generated significant online mockery and meme culture.
- Russia 'looks to have failed latest bid to test launch hypersonic Satan-2 missile'
Russia's latest attempt to test launch its hypersonic Satan-2 missile has reportedly failed. The failure is a setback for Russia's military ambitions. The Satan-2 missile is a key component of Russia's nuclear deterrent
- Putin is mocked with hilarious social media memes for his paranoia over military parade drone attack after cutting off mobile internet connection in Moscow
Vladimir Putin is being mocked on social media for his paranoia over a potential drone attack during a military parade, which led to the disruption of mobile internet connections in Moscow. The incident has sparked hilarious memes and reactions online. Putin's concerns about security have been ridiculed by many.
- Ukraine 'hits some of Russia's most advanced warplanes 1,060 miles inside Putin's territory'
Ukraine reportedly struck Russian advanced warplanes deep inside Russia, approximately 1,060 miles from the border. The attack highlights escalating military tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
- The Strange Rise and Fall of Russia’s Crowd Sourced Defense Industry
Russia's military faced significant logistical failures during the early stages of the Ukraine invasion in February 2022, prompting civilian volunteer organizations like KatyaValya to crowdsource supplies including combat boots, sleeping bags, and radios for troops. The article examines how grassroots efforts emerged to fill critical gaps in Russia's defense supply chain during the conflict.
- Mali’s militant attacks expose limits of Putin’s power in Africa
Russian support for Mali’s military junta has failed to prevent recent rebel attacks, highlighting the limitations of Moscow's influence in the region. Despite 2,000 Russian troops deployed to prop up the regime, militant strikes continue, undermining Putin's strategic goals in Africa.
- Putin's 'starving' troops have resorted to cannibalism with one malnourished soldier caught trying to eat victim's leg, Ukrainian intelligence claims
Ukrainian intelligence claims Russian troops under Putin have resorted to cannibalism due to severe malnutrition, with one soldier allegedly attempting to eat a victim's leg. The report highlights extreme conditions and potential war crimes in the ongoing conflict.
- NATO intercepts Russian military aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea
NATO intercepted Russian bombers and fighter jets over the Baltic Sea. The action was taken to monitor and respond to the military aircraft's presence in the region.
- Russian commander forces refusenik soldier to crawl like a dog, eat dirt and threatens to strap a landmine to him in leaked torture footage
A Russian military commander is shown in leaked footage torturing a conscripted soldier by forcing him to crawl on the ground, eat dirt, and threatening to strap a landmine to him. The video, which has sparked international outrage, highlights alleged abuses within Russia's armed forces.
- Russian commander forces refusenik soldier to crawl like a dog, eat dirt and threatens to strap a landmine to him in leaked torture footage
A Russian military commander is shown in leaked footage forcing a refusenik soldier to crawl like a dog, eat dirt, and threatening to strap a landmine to him. The video highlights alleged torture and abuse within the Russian military.
- Video said to show Russian double-tap strike in Ukraine
A video is circulating online allegedly showing a Russian double-tap strike in Ukraine, a tactic involving repeated attacks on the same location to maximize casualties. The footage has not been independently verified and raises concerns about escalating military actions in the region.