Crimea declared an "emergency situation" due to fuel shortages and power cuts from Ukrainian aerial attacks. Russia reported shooting down 660 Ukrainian drones. Ukraine plans domestic AI computing capacity with Kyivstar, and both nations swapped 160 captured soldiers.
Russia's Defence Ministry reported intercepting 660 Ukrainian drones across 12 Russian regions, Crimea, the Black Sea, and the Azov Sea in a major nighttime attack. Following these increasing aerial assaults, Moscow-installed governor Sergey Aksyonov declared a regional-level emergency situation in Crimea and Sevastopol.
South Korea plans to train all 500,000 military personnel as "drone warriors" to counter evolving warfare tactics, citing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The initiative includes procuring thousands of drones and developing advanced counter-drone systems.
India's defence output hit a record $18.7 billion in FY 2025-26, with the private sector contributing 24% ($4.4 billion). This marks a shift from state dominance, with private firms increasing involvement in drones, surveillance, and components. However, experts note private firms still complement, not replace, state manufacturers in critical technology areas.
A group linked to al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for an attack on Niger's capital, Niamey, airport that killed at least 11 soldiers and two civilians. Security forces repelled the raid, killing 22 attackers. The attack occurred six months after a similar assault on the site.
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence reported detecting six Chinese naval vessels operating around the island on Wednesday morning. The ROC Armed Forces monitored the situation and responded accordingly, noting no Chinese military aircraft were detected during this period. This follows similar reports from Tuesday and highlights ongoing Chinese military operations near Taiwan.
A high-ranking Haitian official, Boyard, was kidnapped in Port-au-Prince, a city largely controlled by gangs. He was seized in a relatively safe area, highlighting the pervasive gang influence.
Ukraine plans to increase military wages by one-third to 30,000 hryvnias and offer fixed-term contracts to boost recruitment. President Zelenskyy also aims to recruit more foreign volunteers. Meanwhile, Russia's Putin claims Ukrainian drone strikes aim to sow confusion and damage the economy, though he admits some economic damage.
Ukraine launched a large-scale drone and missile attack across Russian-occupied Crimea overnight, targeting military sites and fuel supplies. A major oil refinery in southern Russia also caught fire following alleged Ukrainian drone strikes, disrupting fuel logistics.
A car bomb in Moscow reportedly killed Russian General Damir Davydov, head of the defense ministry's missile and artillery wing. The Kremlin confirmed an explosion but withheld details pending investigation. Ukraine has not commented, but has previously claimed responsibility for attacks on Russian generals.
IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh is in France for a four-day visit to advance the Rafale deal. India has issued a Letter of Request (LoR) for 114 multirole 4.5-generation fighter jets worth Rs 3.25 lakh crore. The deal includes significant domestic manufacturing.
South Korea plans to launch its first submarines powered by low-enriched uranium by the mid-2030s, with delivery to the Republic of Korea Navy by the late 2030s, ensuring a 30-year operational lifespan without nuclear weapons capability.
Russia's President Putin blamed Ukraine for a deadly drone attack in Luhansk, vowing retaliation. Ukraine denied the claims, stating it targeted Russian military assets. Meanwhile, Czech President Pavel urged NATO to respond assertively to Russian provocations.
Ukrainian drones struck the Syzran oil refinery in Russia, over 800km inside the country, causing a fire and killing two people. President Zelenskyy stated this is part of a broader plan targeting Russian oil revenues amid escalating attacks.
A car bomb exploded near Syria's Defence Ministry in Damascus, killing at least one soldier and wounding over 20 people. The device was discovered by an army unit attempting to defuse it.
Ukraine launched extensive drone attacks on the Moscow region over the weekend, targeting military-industrial sites like the Angstrom plant and a critical oil pipeline pumping station. President Zelenskyy deemed the strikes "entirely justified." Russia reported casualties and claimed to have shot down numerous drones.
Families of two Saudi scholars facing death penalty urge Cambridge University to cancel staff training deal with Saudi defence ministry, citing human rights abuses.
Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on 14 Russian regions, including Moscow, killing at least four people. Russian authorities reported shooting down hundreds of drones, while Ukraine stated the strikes were retaliation for recent Russian attacks.
Over 500 Ukrainian drones attacked Russia overnight, killing three near Moscow. Romania found an unexploded projectile. The US let a sanctions waiver for Russian oil purchases lapse, impacting India.
South Korea’s military is exploring a strategic partnership with Hyundai Motor to potentially deploy robotics to the front lines as Seoul accelerates investment in AI-powered, unmanned systems to tackle a deepening troop shortage. The defence ministry said it was discussing cooperation with Hyundai as part of efforts to respond to changes in the battlefield environment and develop a “hi-tech, science-driven force”, though specific details have yet to be finalised. The Korea Economic Daily first...
Senior academics describe the Judge business school’s proposal to provide services and training as ‘horrifying’Cambridge University’s business school is seeking to provide “leadership development” and “innovation management” to Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry despite concerns over its government’s record on human rights and climate change, the Guardian has learned.Cambridge’s leadership has approved a proposal by the university’s Judge business school to form a “memorandum of understanding” with the ministry for services and training, after an initial introduction by the UK’s Ministry of Defence. Continue reading...
India successfully conducted a flight-trial of an advanced Agni missile equipped with a Multiple Independently Targeted Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) system. This demonstration showcased the nation's capability to strike multiple strategic targets with a single missile, significantly enhancing defence preparedness against growing threats.
President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered a two-day ceasefire in the conflict with Ukraine on May 8 and 9 to mark Russia’s World War II victory anniversary but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky countered with his own proposed pause in fighting starting earlier, on the night of May 5 to May 6. Russia’s defence ministry said in a statement on Monday that Moscow expected Ukraine to follow the May 8-9 truce and that Russian forces would take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of...
Russia will hold its traditional Victory Day parade on May 9 without military equipment due to the operational situation in Ukraine, the Defence Ministry announced. The parade marks the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory in what Russians call the Great Patriotic War. Only personnel from military educational institutions will march, while no military hardware will pass through Red Square.
