Ukraine says it hit a Russian factory allegedly responsible for churning out a staggering 300 drones per day. This is a significant blow, potentially crippling a major component of Russia’s ongoing military operations. The reported destruction of the final assembly line represents a substantial disruption to Russia’s drone supply chain, regardless of how easily replaceable this particular stage of production might be.
Targeting the final assembly line, while impactful, naturally leads to a discussion about the strategic advantages of targeting earlier stages of the manufacturing process. Disrupting earlier stages would likely have a more profound and lasting effect on drone production.… Continue reading
Zelenskiy’s assertion that Chinese citizens are working at a Russian drone production site raises several intriguing questions. The immediate reaction might be to advocate for a forceful military response – destroying the factory to cripple drone production. However, simply obliterating the site presents its own set of challenges. A bombed-out factory is hardly conducive to continued operations, yet the underlying issue remains: the continued flow of workers and materials to such facilities.
The ambiguity surrounding these workers’ status is noteworthy. While Zelenskiy claims they are there of their own volition, not under direct Chinese government orders, verifying this claim presents difficulties.… Continue reading
To bolster its defense capabilities, Ukraine announced plans to significantly increase domestic production of long-range drones and missiles, aiming for at least 30,000 drones and 3,000 cruise missiles/hybrids next year. This initiative, supported by recent U.S. aid, is intended to offset artillery shortages and counter Russian drone attacks. Development includes the domestically produced Palianytsia missile-drone, already deployed against Russia, and a new technology center will support this effort. This surge in domestic production comes as Ukraine seeks to expand its long-range capabilities while Western arms supplies remain subject to restrictions.
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Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker