Alexander Query

The Russian army’s push for Donbas is not only a matter of symbol in Vladimir Putin’s twisted vision of history; it’s also a matter of resources. Russia’s hold on Donbas would deprive Ukraine of vital resources for its industry. 

Ukraine is learning the hard way; it can’t depend entirely on its Western allies to get enough weapons to repel the Russians and ensure victory, so Ukrainian engineers are racing against the clock to constantly produce new innovative weapon systems. Here’s a quick round-up of the latest war-time inventions.

“Two girls died,” says Slava, a Kherson local who survived a Russian drone attack, his scarred hands a painful reminder. He glances at the bus stop where we’ve paused, and twitches. “Let’s move,” he says. Bus stops, he knows too well, are prime targets.

Russian forces keep using marine mammals in the Black Sea as military weapons against Ukrainian drones. The Soviet-inherited programs are akin to animal cruelty and endanger dolphin species on the brink of extinction. The recent death of Hvaldimir, Russia’s famous beluga whale spy, shows that no animal is safe in Russian hands.

Cheap to build and deadly, First Person View (FPV) drones have become a fixture in this war, and the Pokrovsk frontline is no exception. For two brothers from Kherson—call signs “Stary” and “Google”—hunting Russian invaders is a family business.

Pokrovsk, a key target in Russia’s strategy to capture Ukraine’s Donbas, faces an urgent evacuation deadline. With Russian troops advancing to within 10 kilometers and artillery fire intensifying, authorities warn that residents have less than two weeks to flee their homes.