Ivan Khomenko
News Writer
Ivan Khomenko is a news writer for UNITED24 Media. He covers key developments in the war, providing readers with sharp, informed analysis from the front lines and beyond.
Articles
![Illustrative image of the reusable An-196 Liutyi long-range drone armed with four compact air-launched cruise missiles. (Source: UNITED24 Media)]( "Illustrative image of the reusable An-196 Liutyi long-range drone armed with four compact air-launched cruise missiles. (Source: UNITED24 Media)")
![Russian leader Vladimir Putin visits Alexandra Land on the Franz Josef Land archipelago in the Russian Arctic, March 29, 2017. (Source: Getty Images)]( "Russian leader Vladimir Putin visits Alexandra Land on the Franz Josef Land archipelago in the Russian Arctic, March 29, 2017. (Source: Getty Images)")
- Author
![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
- Category
- War in Ukraine
Russia is rapidly expanding its Arctic military presence, while the United States is still racing to rebuild capabilities after decades of declining investment.![Servicemen of the 9th Kairos Battalion of the "Madyar's Birds" prepare long-range drones for launch from an undisclosed location in Ukraine, May 16, 2026. Illustrative photo. (Source: Getty Images)]( "Servicemen of the 9th Kairos Battalion of the \"Madyar's Birds\" prepare long-range drones for launch from an undisclosed location in Ukraine, May 16, 2026. Illustrative photo. (Source: Getty Images)")
![A first-person view from a Russian Molniya drone shows a magnetic compass mounted inside the airframe—a surprisingly analog backup to modern drone navigation. (Source: Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov/Telegram)]( "A first-person view from a Russian Molniya drone shows a magnetic compass mounted inside the airframe—a surprisingly analog backup to modern drone navigation. (Source: Serhii \"Flash\" Beskrestnov/Telegram)")
![Chinese research vessel Xue Long sails in the Bering Sea during its transit toward the Arctic after passing through the US exclusive economic zone. (Source: US Coast Guard)]( "Chinese research vessel Xue Long sails in the Bering Sea during its transit toward the Arctic after passing through the US exclusive economic zone. (Source: US Coast Guard)")
![Thick black smoke rises above the TsNIITochMash defense research institute in Podolsk, Moscow region, following a reported drone strike on July 20, 2026. (Source: ASTRA)]( "Thick black smoke rises above the TsNIITochMash defense research institute in Podolsk, Moscow region, following a reported drone strike on July 20, 2026. (Source: ASTRA)")
