Defense & Strategy
Coverage of US, allied, and adversary military capability — carrier movements, basing, weapons procurement, doctrine, and the strategic calculus that translates capability into decisions.
Kyiv Strikes Three Russian Oil Refineries and Sanctioned Vessel
Ukrainian forces struck three Russian oil refineries and a sanctioned vessel Sunday, also hitting military bases and Wildberries logistics hubs on war Day 1,621.
China Conducts Military Drills Near Disputed Shoal in South China Sea
China's military conducted exercises near a contested South China Sea shoal, the latest assertion of Beijing's expansive maritime claims in the region.
Trump Backs Off Air-Defense Pledge as Russian Missiles Kill 9 in Kyiv
Russia killed at least nine people in Kyiv on Friday as President Trump retreated from a commitment to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses, leaving gaps Russia quickly exploited.
Russia Strikes Kyiv Again, Killing at Least Four
Ukrainian officials confirmed at least four killed and 15 injured in Russian strikes on Kyiv Friday, as Moscow sustains its aerial campaign against the Ukrainian capital.
China Patrols Disputed South China Sea Shoal on PLA Anniversary
China deployed warships and aircraft near a disputed South China Sea shoal as Beijing marked the PLA's 99th anniversary with warnings against Taiwan independence.
Russia Pounds Kyiv With Ballistic Missiles and Drones, Killing Nine
Russia struck Kyiv with ballistic missiles and drones, killing at least nine and wounding dozens in one of the deadliest attacks on the capital in recent weeks.
Russia Hits Kyiv With Ballistic Missiles and Drones, Killing Three
Russian ballistic missiles and drones struck Kyiv on Saturday, killing at least three and wounding more than a dozen, with rescuers freeing residents from debris.
Zelenskyy Asks Trump to Unlock Musk's Starlink for Ukraine Strikes
Ukraine's president is asking the Trump administration to intercede with Elon Musk over Starlink access, seeking to extend the satellite network to offensive strike operations inside Russia.
Zelensky Releases Casualty Figures as Ukraine Hits Russian Commerce
President Zelensky cited updated Ukrainian and Russian casualty counts Thursday as Kyiv struck Wildberries warehouses and Russia's grain lobby warned of global food risks.
Western Allies Warn North Korean IT Workers Are Funding Nuclear Arsenal
The U.S. and allies issued a coordinated warning Friday that AI-assisted North Korean IT workers are funneling hard-currency earnings into Pyongyang's weapons programs.
North Korea Built KN-23 Missile Factory for Russia in 18 Months
Defense Express reports North Korea erected a dedicated KN-23 missile production workshop for Russia in 18 months, then moved the facility underground to evade satellite surveillance.
China Coast Guard Patrols Waters East of Taiwan, Angering Taipei
China's coast guard extended patrols to waters east of Taiwan, drawing sharp condemnation from Taipei and raising new concerns about Beijing's expanding maritime reach.
Trump 'Not Sure' About Ukraine Building Its Own Patriot Missiles
Ukraine's Washington envoy says Kyiv is in Pentagon talks over a PAC-3 production license, but Trump expressed uncertainty and the process could take up to five years.
North Korea's Economy Grows on Russia Arms Revenue and China Trade
Bloomberg reports North Korea posted economic gains in 2025 as weapons exports to Russia and expanded China commerce offset years of international sanctions pressure.
Russian Missile Kills at Least 6 Family Members in Ukrainian Village
A Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian village killed at least six members of a single family, the Kyiv Independent reported, as Trump hedged on Patriot missile production for Kyiv.
Ukraine Strikes Two More Wildberries Warehouses in Logistics Campaign
Ukrainian forces struck two more Wildberries warehouses, continuing Kyiv's campaign against Russian logistics infrastructure and raising economic costs inside Russia.
Zelensky: North Korean Ballistic Missile Kills Family of 10 in Radushne
Zelensky says a North Korean ballistic missile — the first DPRK weapon used in Ukraine in months — struck Radushne, killing a family of 10 people.
U.S. Army Awards Lockheed Martin $58.6 Billion Patriot Contract
The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin up to $58.6 billion to produce Patriot interceptors as stockpile concerns mount after years of Ukraine aid shipments.
Russia Uses North Korean Missile Against Ukraine as Debris Hits Poland
Russia reportedly used a North Korean ballistic missile against Ukraine for the first time this year, killing at least 13 as debris from the barrage landed inside Poland.
Russia Strikes Kyiv With Ballistic Missiles After Zelenskyy's Warning
Russia struck Kyiv with ballistic missiles on Wednesday, killing at least seven people, hours after Zelenskyy warned allies of an imminent 'massive' Russian attack on his return from Washington.
Pentagon Official Honors Chinese Military Personnel in Beijing Visit
A senior Pentagon official traveled to Beijing and participated in a ceremony honoring Chinese military personnel, the Washington Times reported, a notable diplomatic gesture amid elevated US-China tensions.
China Fires YJ-20 Hypersonic Missile From Type 052D Destroyer
China fires the YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile from a Type 052D destroyer, spreading a once-exclusive capability across a far larger share of the PLAN surface fleet.
Zelenskyy Asks Trump, Senate for Anti-Ballistic Systems and Missiles
Zelenskyy told Trump and senators Ukraine needs anti-ballistic systems and long-range missiles. The Senate responded by advancing Russia sanctions legislation for the first time this session.
China's Expanding Nuclear Arsenal: A Guide to Beijing's Missile Forces
The PLARF now fields 600-plus warheads across mobile ICBMs, hardened silos, and submarines—on course to exceed 1,000 operationally deployed warheads by 2030.
Behind Kim's Nuclear Navy and AI: Beijing's Hidden Hand
ThinkChina analysis identifies Beijing as the enabling power behind North Korea's nuclear navy and AI programs, reframing Kim's military modernization.
Zelenskyy Says Russia Seeks 30,000 More North Korean Troops
Ukraine's president warns of a fresh North Korean troop infusion as he heads to talks with Trump, pressing for anti-ballistic missile defenses and strategic cooperation.
Earthquakes Strike Qinghai as China's AI Video Crisis Deepens
Twin earthquakes hit China's Qinghai province Monday as Beijing battles a surge of AI-generated fake videos spreading disaster misinformation across social media platforms.
Zelenskyy Says North Korea Will Send 30,000 Troops to Russia
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says North Korea plans to deploy 30,000 troops to support Russian forces, deepening Pyongyang's direct military involvement in the Ukraine war.
Russia Ran North Korea's Ballistic Missile Lab Inside Ukraine
Russia reportedly operated a North Korean ballistic missile laboratory inside Ukraine and is now transferring findings back to Pyongyang, deepening their military partnership.
Russian Strikes Spark Kyiv Fires Ahead of Trump-Zelensky Meeting
Russia struck Kyiv overnight, sparking fires across the capital, as ceasefire talks edged forward and Zelensky alleged Moscow is seeking 30,000 more North Korean troops.