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.

Zelenskiy: Russia Wants 30,000 More North Korean Troops in Ukraine
President Zelenskiy warned Saturday that Russia is seeking 30,000 additional North Korean soldiers as Pyongyang's military partnership with Moscow continues to deepen.

Russia Says Ukraine Killed 11 at Tourist Camp; Kyiv Hits Russian Refinery
Russia blamed Ukraine for killing 11 at a holiday camp Saturday; Kyiv struck a Russian oil refinery in escalating cross-border exchanges across the war's fourth summer.

Russia Hits Kyiv Arms Exhibition With Ballistic Missiles, Killing 10
Russian ballistic missiles struck a drone and weapons exhibition in Kyiv, killing at least 10 and wounding more than 100 in one of the deadliest single strikes on the capital this year.

Russia Strikes Kyiv Weapons Exhibition, Wounding 100 and Killing 10
Updated casualty figures show the Russian strike on a defense exhibition near Kyiv wounded around 100 people in addition to the 10 confirmed dead, NDTV reported Friday.

North Korea's Nuclear Navy: Pyongyang Builds a Sea-Based Deterrent
A new Foundation for Defense of Democracies analysis finds North Korea's nuclear submarine program is further advanced than recognized, reshaping Pacific deterrence.

Chinese and Philippine Coast Guard Vessels Clash in South China Sea
Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships clashed in the South China Sea on Thursday, Al Jazeera reported, the latest in a pattern of maritime confrontations over disputed features.

Russian Missile Strike Kills 10 at Ukraine Defence Event
A Russian missile strike killed at least 10 people at a Ukrainian defence gathering Friday as both sides traded long-range blows, leaving at least 17 dead across the day's exchanges.

Russia Cuts Power to 150,000 in Ukraine; Kyiv Strikes Missile, Oil Sites
Russian forces knocked out electricity for around 150,000 people in northern Ukraine on Thursday as Kyiv struck missile production and oil facilities inside Russia on Day 1,612 of the war.

China Launches Taiwan Strait Drills as PLA Sorties Hit Three-Year Low
Beijing ordered fresh military exercises in the Taiwan Strait days after high-level U.S.-China talks, even as PLA air sorties near Taiwan fell to a three-year low in early 2026.

Ukraine's New Military Chief Pledges Escalation Amid Fedorov Protests
Ukraine's new commander pledged to escalate strikes against Russian targets as demonstrators pressed the government to reinstate ousted Defense Minister Fedorov.

Ukraine's Skyfall Unveils Faster Drone Interceptor for Shahed Attacks
Ukrainian firm Skyfall has revealed a new interceptor variant topping out at 370 km/h, a 60 km/h gain over its predecessor aimed at destroying Russian Shahed drones faster.

Russia's Nuclear Threats Prove Hollow as War Grinds Into Another Year
Ukraine's top commander Syrskii has been fired as Russia hits ports and ships, with analysts arguing Moscow's nuclear arsenal has failed to alter the war's grinding trajectory.

Ukraine Strikes Russian Fighter Jet and Air Defenses in Kursk Oblast
Ukraine's General Staff reports strikes on a Russian fighter jet and air defense systems in Kursk Oblast as UN data documents a steep rise in civilian casualties across the war.

Russia and Ukraine Trade Strikes on Black Sea Civilian Ships
Russia and Ukraine have escalated their Black Sea conflict with fiery attacks on civilian vessels, raising alarm over maritime safety in a war-battered sea lane.

Pentagon Identifies Sgt. Michael Swinton, Killed by Iranian Drone
The Pentagon identified Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of North Carolina, killed Saturday during a controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone at Erbil airbase, Iraq.

Chinese Coast Guard Strikes Philippine Sailor in South China Sea Clash
Video footage shows a Chinese coast guard officer striking a Philippine sailor during a South China Sea confrontation, escalating one of Asia's most volatile territorial disputes.

Russian Drone Strike Ignites Fire at Sumy Shopping Centre as Moscow Hits Gas Facilities
A Russian drone attack set a shopping centre in northeastern Ukraine's Sumy ablaze Tuesday as Moscow simultaneously struck the country's gas infrastructure.

Pentagon Confirms Nearly 100 U.S. Service Members Injured in Iran Strikes
The Pentagon on Monday confirmed nearly 100 U.S. service members have been injured since strikes on Iran resumed in July, saying 96 percent have returned to duty.

Report: Pentagon Concealed Dozens of U.S. Injuries in Iran Strikes
A New York Times report cited by The Hill says the Pentagon concealed dozens of U.S. service-member injuries from the Iranian strikes that killed two soldiers in Jordan.

Ukraine Hits Russian Oil Depot, Moscow Logistics, Six Black Sea Ships
President Zelensky confirmed Ukrainian forces struck a Russian oil depot, logistics infrastructure in Moscow Oblast, and six Black Sea vessels in coordinated Monday strikes.

Russia Accuses Ukraine of Drone Strike on Border Bus, Five Dead
Moscow says a Ukrainian drone struck a passenger bus in a Russian border region Monday, killing five civilians, in a claim Kyiv has not confirmed.

Pentagon Identifies U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iranian Strike on Jordan
The Pentagon named 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan of Hawaii and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales of Texas as the two U.S. soldiers killed in the Iranian attack on a base in Jordan.

Russia Strikes Ship Near Odesa, Killing 10; Ukraine Drones Hit Moscow
Russia struck a vessel near Odesa killing at least 10 Monday as Ukraine fired hundreds of drones at Moscow, a day after a massive Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv.

Putin Thanks North Korea as Ukraine Blames Russia for Cargo Ship Strike
Ukraine attributed a deadly Black Sea cargo ship strike to Russian forces as Putin publicly thanked North Korea for its military support, formalizing a wartime alliance that has alarmed Western governments.

Russia Strikes Cargo Ship in Black Sea, Killing Five
A Russian strike on a cargo vessel in the Black Sea killed five crew members Sunday, Ukrainian officials said, adding to a mounting toll on civilian maritime traffic.

U.S. Service Member Killed in Iraq During Iranian Munition Detonation
A U.S. service member was killed in Iraq during a controlled detonation of an Iranian munition, one day after two U.S. troops died in an Iran-linked attack on a base in Jordan.

Russia Strikes Kyiv and Kharkiv With Ballistic Missiles, One Killed
Russia launched one of the largest ballistic-missile barrages of the war against Kyiv and Kharkiv on Saturday, killing at least one and wounding up to 15 others.

Russia Hits Kyiv With Largest Ballistic Missile Attack of the War
Russian ballistic missiles struck Kyiv on July 19, killing one and wounding 13 in what Zelensky called the most massive ballistic attack on Ukraine's capital.

Pentagon Signs $439M ATACMS Deal With Taiwan, Fujian Carrier in Range
A $439 million ATACMS contract gives Taiwan long-range strike capability to target China's Fujian carrier, marking a significant escalation in U.S. arms transfers to Taipei.

Ukraine Escalates Air War With Deadly Strikes on Russia's 'Amazon'
Ukrainian drones struck warehouses and logistics sites across Russia overnight, killing 9 and wounding more than 60 in one of the campaign's deadliest raids.