Taras Safronov

Taras Safronov

Senior Editor at Militarnyi since 2020. Covers the war in Ukraine, the defense industry, and the history of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict since 2014.
Author's publications
SSU Struck Five Storage Tanks at the Samara Oil Terminal

SSU Struck Five Storage Tanks at the Samara Oil Terminal

On the night of April 21, drones from the SSU’s Alpha Special Operations Center struck the Samara line-production-dispatch station in Russia. Th...
April 21, 2026
16:28
Family Ties to Russia: Denmark Dismisses F-16 Technician, Nurse, and Veteran Officer with 43 Years of Service

Family Ties to Russia: Denmark Dismisses F-16 Technician, Nurse, and Veteran Officer with 43 Years of Service

An aviation technician, an officer, and a nurse were dismissed from Denmark’s armed forces after intelligence services found they had family ties t...
April 21, 2026
14:55
30 Drones Shot Down in a Day: Foxtrot Crew Sets New Record

30 Drones Shot Down in a Day: Foxtrot Crew Sets New Record

On April 16, the Foxtrot crew of the 1020th Anti-Aircraft Missile and Artillery Regiment destroyed 30 drones in a single day. The Serhiy Prytula...
April 20, 2026
21:59
German Sea King Mk41 Helicopter Prepared in UK for Transfer to Ukraine

German Sea King Mk41 Helicopter Prepared in UK for Transfer to Ukraine

In Portland, UK, a German Sea King Mk41 helicopter has been prepared for transfer to Ukraine. The helicopter no longer bears any identification mar...
April 20, 2026
20:52
The Swan-X 20 Drone, With Range of 250 km, Unveiled in Ukraine

The Swan-X 20 Drone, With Range of 250 km, Unveiled in Ukraine

A new Swan-X 20 drone was unveiled in Ukraine; it is capable of delivering up to 20 kg of payload over a distance of up to 250 km. The National ...
April 20, 2026
18:47
Russia Developed New Lys-2 Interceptor Drones With Automatic Target Acquisition

Russia Developed New Lys-2 Interceptor Drones With Automatic Target Acquisition

The Russian military has begun receiving Lys-2 interceptor drones capable of shooting down Ukrainian UAVs. This was reported by an analyst from ...
April 20, 2026
18:32
A Third of Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57 Production Firms Freely Source Foreign Components

A Third of Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57 Production Firms Freely Source Foreign Components

About one-third of Russian companies involved in producing Su-57 fighter jets have managed to avoid sanctions and continue to purchase foreign comp...
April 20, 2026
16:39
Doctors Removed Shell from Leg of Wounded Soldier

Doctors Removed Shell from Leg of Wounded Soldier

Ukrainian medics removed an anti-tank shell from the leg of a wounded soldier. The operation was performed by the Second Medical Battalion under...
April 17, 2026
21:44
Iranian Authorities Announce Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Authorities Announce Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz

Iranian authorities have stated that they have reopened the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial vessels. This was announced by the country’s Fore...
April 17, 2026
20:21
Farsight Vision and 2021 Solutions Will Transform BZIK Drone Into Geospatial Analytics Tool

Farsight Vision and 2021 Solutions Will Transform BZIK Drone Into Geospatial Analytics Tool

The Ukrainian-Estonian defense startup Farsight Vision announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with 2021 Solutions—the developer of ...
April 17, 2026
18:25
Special Operations Forces Destroy Rubicon Unit Base Near Mariupol

Special Operations Forces Destroy Rubicon Unit Base Near Mariupol

Special Operations Forces struck the logistics base of the classified Russian Center for Advanced Unmanned Technologies ‘Rubicon.’ The Special O...
April 17, 2026
17:47
Only One-Third of Russia’s Tu-160M Fleet Used in Strikes Against Ukraine

Only One-Third of Russia’s Tu-160M Fleet Used in Strikes Against Ukraine

Only one-third of Russia’s Tu-160M strategic bombers are currently used for strikes against Ukraine. According to analysts at AviVector, the rem...
April 17, 2026
14:52
Lasar’s Group Destroys Russian Smerch MLRS in Luhansk Region

Lasar’s Group Destroys Russian Smerch MLRS in Luhansk Region

Ukrainian drones struck deep behind Russian lines, destroying BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launchers. The Lasar’s Group, a unit of the National ...
April 17, 2026
14:05
US Components Found in Shahed Drones Within Months of Production

US Components Found in Shahed Drones Within Months of Production

Recently manufactured US components are being installed in Russian Shahed-type strike drones. Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the Commissioner for Sanctions ...
April 17, 2026
13:06
Belarusian Volunteers Armed With WWII-Era M114 Howitzers

Belarusian Volunteers Armed With WWII-Era M114 Howitzers

Belarusian volunteers from the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment have received American M114 howitzers into their arsenal. The unit noted that this is ...
April 17, 2026
12:38
Slovakia Does Not Object to Granting Ukraine €90 Billion Loan

Slovakia Does Not Object to Granting Ukraine €90 Billion Loan

Slovakia is prepared to oppose a new EU sanctions package against Russia, but will not stand in the way of granting Ukraine a €90 billion loan. ...
April 16, 2026
22:28
Ukraine Masters Manufacturing of Rubber Tracks for UGVs

Ukraine Masters Manufacturing of Rubber Tracks for UGVs

Ukraine has begun manufacturing domestic rubber tracks for UGVs. Previously, only imported tracks were used. Taras Ostapchuk, CEO of Ratel Robot...
April 16, 2026
18:48
Study: Rassvet Satellites Could Already Offer Russia an Alternative to Starlink

Study: Rassvet Satellites Could Already Offer Russia an Alternative to Starlink

Russian Rassvet satellites may already be capable of providing a Starlink-like alternative over Ukraine for the Russian military. This is accord...
April 16, 2026
16:26
FSB Official’s Planned Bombing in Moscow Covered as Helium Cylinder Explosion — New Data

FSB Official’s Planned Bombing in Moscow Covered as Helium Cylinder Explosion — New Data

Russia’s FSB in Moscow allegedly concealed a planned bombing of one of its officials in 2025 under the guise of a helium cylinder explosion. VCH...
April 15, 2026
22:47
MBDA Assists Fire Point in Missile Development — Intelligence Online

MBDA Assists Fire Point in Missile Development — Intelligence Online

European arms manufacturer MBDA is assisting Ukrainian company Fire Point in developing missiles. Intelligence Online reported on this. It notes...
April 15, 2026
19:17
Russia Uses Facial Recognition System to Track Ukrainians Wanted for Arrest

Russia Uses Facial Recognition System to Track Ukrainians Wanted for Arrest

In Russia, Ukrainian citizens whom Moscow seeks to arrest have been added to the facial recognition system's database. Recently, in St. Petersbu...
April 15, 2026
17:16
Norway Scandal: 100 Million Kroner for Ukraine Masks Under Parliamentary Investigation

Norway Scandal: 100 Million Kroner for Ukraine Masks Under Parliamentary Investigation

Norway is investigating a questionable military aid deal to Ukraine involving respiratory masks made by Watchbird. The Norwegian Parliament has ...
April 15, 2026
15:09
Raytheon to Manufacture $3.7 Billion Worth of Patriot Missiles for Ukraine

Raytheon to Manufacture $3.7 Billion Worth of Patriot Missiles for Ukraine

Raytheon has signed a $3.7 billion contract to supply Ukraine with Patriot GEM-T interceptor missiles. The company reported that a new productio...
April 14, 2026
21:22
US Blockade Fails to Stop Tankers in the Strait of Hormuz

US Blockade Fails to Stop Tankers in the Strait of Hormuz

A Chinese oil tanker passed through the Strait of Hormuz on April 14 despite a U.S. blockade of the key shipping route. Reuters reports that the...
April 14, 2026
13:46
Hungary Bolstered its Armed Forces with New Lynx IFVs

Hungary Bolstered its Armed Forces with New Lynx IFVs

The new Lynx IFVs have reinforced the Hungarian 30th Armored Infantry Brigade, which is one of the country’s largest land-based military units. ...
April 13, 2026
19:50
Two Ukrainian Armed Forces Soldiers Captured Eight Russians

Two Ukrainian Armed Forces Soldiers Captured Eight Russians

Two Ukrainian assault troops attacked a dugout occupied by Russians and captured eight invaders. The operation was carried out by soldiers of th...
April 13, 2026
18:48
New NASAMS Systems Arrive in Lithuania to Bolster its Air Defense

New NASAMS Systems Arrive in Lithuania to Bolster its Air Defense

The Norwegian company Kongsberg has delivered new NASAMS air defense systems to Lithuania. The Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania release...
April 13, 2026
18:37
Drones Strike One of Russia’s Largest Chemical Plants in Cherepovets

Drones Strike One of Russia’s Largest Chemical Plants in Cherepovets

Attack drones reached the Russian chemical complex in the city of Cherepovets, the Vologda region. The drones traveled over 800 kilometers. Foot...
April 13, 2026
16:39
Pentagon Did Not Become ‘Department of War’; US Courts Reject Trump’s Initiative

Pentagon Did Not Become ‘Department of War’; US Courts Reject Trump’s Initiative

Pentagon investigators have been barred from using the name ‘Department of War’ in official documents. The secondary name is acceptable for form...
April 13, 2026
16:14
US and Swiss Components Found in Russian Prince Oleg the Wise Drone

US and Swiss Components Found in Russian Prince Oleg the Wise Drone

Many components from Switzerland, the United States, the Netherlands, and other countries were identified in the Russian Prince Oleg the Wise drone...
April 13, 2026
13:49
Ukraine’s Kinetic Sanctions Offset Rising Oil Prices for Russia, Says Presidential Commissioner

Ukraine’s Kinetic Sanctions Offset Rising Oil Prices for Russia, Says Presidential Commissioner

Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s oil and gas industry have prevented Russia from profiting further from rising oil prices. Vladislav Vlasyuk, the P...
April 10, 2026
20:49
Norway Armed Ukraine With the Latest Nammo SOHG Modular Grenades

Norway Armed Ukraine With the Latest Nammo SOHG Modular Grenades

The Norwegian company Nammo has supplied the Ukrainian military with the latest Scalable Offensive Hand Grenade (SOHG) modular grenades. Several...
April 10, 2026
18:35
Ukrainian Armed Forces Destroy Rare Typhoon-VDV Equipped With 30 mm Cannon

Ukrainian Armed Forces Destroy Rare Typhoon-VDV Equipped With 30 mm Cannon

Ukrainian troops struck a rare K-4386 Typhoon-VDV armored vehicle equipped with a 30 mm cannon. The vehicle was detected by the STAR unmanned sy...
April 10, 2026
18:08
Hitman From Balkans who Attempted to Shoot Ukrainian Navy Officer Detained in Ukraine

Hitman From Balkans who Attempted to Shoot Ukrainian Navy Officer Detained in Ukraine

Ukrainian counterintelligence foiled a Russian attempt to carry out a contract killing of a Ukrainian Navy officer. The Security Service of Ukra...
April 10, 2026
17:09
Zaporizhzhia Region: Ukrainian Drones Strike Two Russian S-300 Systems

Zaporizhzhia Region: Ukrainian Drones Strike Two Russian S-300 Systems

In the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukrainian forces hit two air defense systems from an S-300 complex. The operation was carried out by the Lasar’s Gro...
April 10, 2026
12:27
France Increases Pressure and Urges Greece to Transfer Mirage 2000-5s to Ukraine

France Increases Pressure and Urges Greece to Transfer Mirage 2000-5s to Ukraine

France is increasing pressure on Greece to supply Ukraine with Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets, which are already in service with the Ukrainian Air Forc...
April 9, 2026
18:48
Trump Demands Europe Send Warships to the Strait of Hormuz

Trump Demands Europe Send Warships to the Strait of Hormuz

The US is stepping up pressure on its European partners, demanding not only political support but also military involvement in the Strait of Hormuz...
April 9, 2026
18:08
Colombia Raises Military Salaries, Which May Affect the Flow of Volunteers to Ukraine

Colombia Raises Military Salaries, Which May Affect the Flow of Volunteers to Ukraine

The Colombian government has signed a decree raising military salaries. This may affect volunteers planning to travel to Ukraine. Gustavo Petro,...
April 9, 2026
17:09
IRGC Imposes Toll on Strait of Hormuz Within Missile Coverage Zone

IRGC Imposes Toll on Strait of Hormuz Within Missile Coverage Zone

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is now allowing ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz only if they pay a fee and stay within area...
April 9, 2026
14:47
Cyber Activists Hack Rosatom, Obtain Data on Iran Cooperation

Cyber Activists Hack Rosatom, Obtain Data on Iran Cooperation

Cyber activists from CyberLegion hacked the systems of the Russian corporation Rosatom and accessed a range of confidential materials. The Freed...
April 8, 2026
21:32
US Orders Additional M777 Howitzer Barrels Also Needed by Ukraine

US Orders Additional M777 Howitzer Barrels Also Needed by Ukraine

The US Armed Forces have signed a contract with BAE Systems to produce additional 155-mm M776 barrels for M777A2 howitzers. The new deal is valu...
April 8, 2026
20:20
Russian UAV Unit Commander Dies in Kursk Region Under Unclear Circumstances

Russian UAV Unit Commander Dies in Kursk Region Under Unclear Circumstances

Lieutenant Vyacheslav Parkhatsky, a UAV company commander in Russia’s 810th Marine Brigade, died in the Kursk region under unclear circumstances. ...
April 8, 2026
15:24
Winged FPV Quadcopters Begin Attacking Russian Forces

Winged FPV Quadcopters Begin Attacking Russian Forces

Ukrainian FPV quadcopters equipped with wings have begun attacking Russian forces. The Russian Rubicon unit recorded one such drone, according t...
April 8, 2026
14:46
Russia Plans Buffer Zone in Vinnytsia Region Near Transnistria

Russia Plans Buffer Zone in Vinnytsia Region Near Transnistria

Russia is planning to establish a buffer zone in Ukraine’s Vinnytsia region, near the unrecognized territory of Transnistria. Pavlo Palisa, Depu...
April 8, 2026
14:17
Ukraine Used British Malloy T-150 Drones to Destroy Bridge in Kherson Region

Ukraine Used British Malloy T-150 Drones to Destroy Bridge in Kherson Region

Ukrainian forces used heavy British Malloy T-150 drones to destroy a bridge over the Konka River last year. The Telegraph reported details of th...
April 7, 2026
22:23
Russian Be-12 Aircraft Used Against Maritime Drones Struck in Crimea

Russian Be-12 Aircraft Used Against Maritime Drones Struck in Crimea

Ukrainian forces in Crimea, near Kachi, struck a Be-12 amphibious anti-submarine aircraft. The General Staff of Ukraine reported that they are a...
April 6, 2026
22:20
Ukrainian All-Terrain Vehicles to Be Demonstrated for Military in Greenland

Ukrainian All-Terrain Vehicles to Be Demonstrated for Military in Greenland

A demonstration of all-terrain vehicles from the Ukrainian manufacturer SHERP will be held for the military in Greenland. Danmarks Radio reporte...
April 6, 2026
17:28
Russian Frigate Struck by Ukrainian Drone in Port of Novorossiysk

Russian Frigate Struck by Ukrainian Drone in Port of Novorossiysk

A Ukrainian FP-2 strike drone manufactured by Fire Point struck a Russian frigate in the port of Novorossiysk. The operation on April 6 was carr...
April 6, 2026
16:19