Russia is firing missiles faster than its factories build them. In 19 days of July, it launched 20 Zircons out of the 30 it is expected to produce in all of 2026.
It spent two-thirds of the year's planned Zircon output already, drawing on its reserve — United24. 1/
Alongside those 20 Zircons, Russia fired 107 ballistic missiles between July 1 and 19, counted from daily reports by Ukraine's Air Force and regional air commands.
That ballistic total alone already surpassed what Russia's factories are estimated to build in a full month. 2/
HUR estimates Russia manufactures about 60 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and around 40 RM-48U missiles for S-400 systems each month, roughly 100 ballistic missiles combined.
July's launches crossed that monthly output line with more than ten days still left on the calendar. 3/
Palantir CEO Karp: Without AI systems, Russia would have won.
Without these technologies, Europe would face rampant terror attacks, and pro-Putin parties would run Europe. Europe as we know it exists because these tools are already in use.
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Karp: I will not support any party that sympathizes with Putin or the CCP.
These parties are complex, but they include people I suspect would not like me very much.
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Karp: America and Europe gain an edge from moral standards, not from dropping them. Solving the moral problem often reveals the technical problem.
Ukraine proves it: battlefield experience and sovereign data platforms can beat raw data access.
Chmut: Russia has no military genius. Its system fits the Russian dying in Donbas and commanders like him. Moscow waits for Ukraine to crack. Ukraine must crack Russia first.
Head of Ukraine’s top-funded defense charity “Come Back Alive,” Taras Chmut spoke to UkrPravda.
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Chmut: The Defense Ministry cannot make big changes without the Armed Forces. If the General Staff blocks them, nothing moves.
Fedorov had worked on drones, innovation, partners and procurement since 2022. Zelenskyy knew this fight existed when he appointed him.
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Chmut: Ukraine is acting like it did in 2021: the war feels routine, the front moves a little, refineries burn, TV says everything is fine.
But this is an illusion. One day, the front can break.
Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi: I was surprised to hear I had a conflict with Fedorov. I saw hard questions and different views as normal work in a major war.
Fedorov, if I offended you, I apologize. I can be tough, –– Militarnyi.
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Syrskyi: Ukraine is bigger than Fedorov, Syrskyi, or any of us. It will stand because it has an army, institutions and millions doing their jobs.
Turning the war into a fight between two names helps the enemy. Real work wins wars, not public drama.
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Syrskyi: The Defense Ministry equips the army, buys weapons, sets policy and provides civilian control. The minister does not have to sit at the front or plan the war.
War strategy, operations, the front, long-range strikes and Crimea are my responsibility before Zelenskyy.
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Europe’s biggest alumina plant sits in Ireland, and is tied to sanctioned oligarch Oleg Deripaska, and sends much of its output to Russia.
Kyiv wants the flow cut. Dublin fears sanctions could put nearly 900 local jobs at risk, — FT. 1/
The plant produces raw material for aluminium.
Questions now focus on how much of its output reaches Russia and whether it supports military production in Siberia. Ireland says it has no proof of that link. 2/
Aughinish does not face sanctions. Alumina trade with Russia also remains legal.
Dublin has resisted EU pressure to include the plant in sanctions packages, while MEPs backed a nonbinding call to ban its exports to Russia. 3/
McFaul: Trump’s strategy was to appease Putin by making concessions without demanding anything in return.
He ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine and halted military and economic aid. Putin gave him nothing. Trump now seems to realize appeasement does not work. 1/
McFaul: Russia’s military has grown stronger, producing large numbers of drones and ballistic missiles.
The US and Europe, especially NATO’s eastern flank, must do more and coordinate joint defense commitments with Ukraine. 2/
McFaul: The West needs a Cold War–style strategy to deter Putin’s Russia. I once believed there was a clear divide between Putin’s dictatorship and Russian society.
I was wrong. Too many Russians support this war and accept the mass sacrifice of their own citizens. 3/