War in Ukraine

Many around the world remember Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but after years of fighting, media coverage has dwindled, leaving some unsure if the war is still happening.

As the United States, Europe, and Ukraine continue to call for constructive peace talks, Russia is relentlessly attacking Ukrainian cities, launching almost 1,000 strikes in three days, killing and injuring dozens of civilians.

Russia bombards Ukrainian cities with Shahed drones almost daily, terrorizing civilians from frontline cities like Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia to distant hubs like Kyiv and Odesa. In response, Ukrainian engineers have built a homegrown defense system—Sky Sentinel—to fight back against the Russian aerial threat.

When 273 Russian drones swarmed Ukraine’s skies on the night of May 17–18, it was Ukraine’s air defense that held the line. Which systems have actually become lifesavers in this war?

Ukraine has rolled out a system where frontline units earn points for every enemy target they destroy—points they can redeem for more weapons. It’s a results-first approach that gives even low-profile but lethal teams the firepower to hit Russian troops harder, faster, and more often.

To offset mounting losses and dodge another unpopular mobilization, Russia is luring foreign recruits with more than money — passports, residency, and promises of safe, technical jobs. But once contracts are signed, many are sent straight to the front. Deception, not duty, is the cornerstone of this recruitment strategy.