Polish officials said Wednesday its forces had shot down a “huge number” of Russian drones overnight that violated the country’s airspace during an attack on Ukraine.
Polish fighter jets, backed by NATO aircraft from Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany, intercepted and destroyed the drones, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said. He added that allies stood in solidarity with Poland and denounced Russia’s “reckless behavior.”
“Last night the Polish airspace was violated by a huge number of Russian drones. Those drones that posed a direct threat were shot down,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk <a href="https://x.com/donaldtusk/status/1965663914139824231">wrote</a> on X. “I am in constant communication with the Secretary General of NATO and our allies.”
He said 19 drones had been in Polish airspace, later telling Parliament that Russia had gone too far. 
&#8220;I have no reason to claim we&#8217;re on the brink of war, but a line has been crossed, and it&#8217;s incomparably more dangerous than before,&#8221; Tusk said, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/poland-is-its-closest-open-conflict-since-world-war-two-pm-says-2025-09-10/">according</a> to Reuters. &#8220;This situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War II.”
The Kremlin refused to comment on the situation.
“This is not for us to do so,&#8221; said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c2enwk1l9e1t">according</a> to the BBC. &#8220;It’s a matter for the [Russian] defence ministry.”
Russia&#8217;s Defense Ministry <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-poland-drones-1232774279039f9e5c5b78bd58686cb9">said</a> it did not target Poland, and General Pavel Muraveiko, the Russian-aligned commander of Belarus’s armed forces, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/world/europe/poland-russia-drones-ukraine-attack.html">claimed</a> that the drones “lost their course as a result of electronic warfare.”
Several European leaders condemned the drone incursion. 
“This was an extremely reckless move by Russia and only serves to remind us of President Putin’s blatant disregard for peace, and the constant bombardment innocent Ukrainians face every day,&#8221; said U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. 
“Hungary stands in full solidarity with Poland following the recent drone incident. The violation of Poland’s territorial integrity is unacceptable,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán wrote on X. “The incident proves that our policy of calling for peace in the Russia-Ukraine war is reasonable and rational. Living in the shadow of a war is fraught with risks and dangers. It’s time to make it stop! To this end, we support the efforts of President [Donald Trump] aimed at achieving peace.”
President Donald Trump has pushed for an end to the Ukraine-Russia war, but the fighting between the two countries has continued. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have not yet met to discuss a possible end to the conflict.

NATO member Poland shoots down Russian drones in unprecedented ‘airspace violation’

Poland Downs ‘Huge Number’ Of Russian Drones Violating Its Sovereign Airspace

Drones

Global Politics

NATO

Poland

Russia

Ukraine-Russia War

Vladimir Putin

Volodymyr Zelensky

World

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Poland has placed its air defense forces on high alert following reports that Russian drones entered its airspace during overnight attacks on Ukraine.
&#8220;The Operational Command of the Armed Forces is observing intense activity of the Russian Federation&#8217;s long-range aviation tonight, related to air and missile strikes on targets located in the territory of Ukraine,&#8221; the operational command of the Polish armed forces wrote on X. &#8220;All necessary procedures to ensure the safety of Polish airspace have been activated, and the Operational Command of the Armed Forces is continuously the situation. We warn that Polish and allied aircraft have been activated, which may result in increased noise levels, especially in the southeastern region of the country.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ obserwuje dzisiejszej nocy intensywną aktywność lotnictwa dalekiego zasięgu Federacji Rosyjskiej, związaną z uderzeniami lotniczo-rakietowymi na obiekty znajdujące się na terytorium Ukrainy.
Wszystkie niezbędne procedury mające na celu zapewnienia… <a href="https://t.co/hnhbaxanVc">pic.twitter.com/hnhbaxanVc</a>
— Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/DowOperSZ/status/1771738523600556042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
According to Ukrainian military officials, multiple Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace while en route to targets in western Ukraine. Poland’s Ministry of Defense confirmed the airspace violation and responded by activating its aircraft, radar systems, and ground-based air defenses. No damage or injuries were reported, and the drones reportedly exited Polish airspace without being intercepted.
This is the latest in a series of drone-related incidents involving Poland. Earlier this month, on September 2 and 3, two Russian drones also briefly entered Polish territory but did not cause harm. In a more serious incident on August 20, a Shahed drone crashed and exploded in a cornfield roughly 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
In response to the increasing frequency of these incursions, Poland is taking broader security measures. Airspace over Warsaw was <a href="https://bnonews.com/index.php/2025/09/poland-on-high-alert-after-ukraine-says-russian-drones-entered-its-airspace/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">reportedly closed</a>. The government announced that it will <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/10/ukraine-war-briefing-russian-drone-alert-in-poland-before-belarus-border-closure?utm_source=chatgpt.com">close its border</a> with Belarus starting Thursday, citing growing concerns over the ongoing joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises known as Zapad-2025. Polish authorities view the drills, taking place near its eastern frontier, as a potential threat to national security.
Several regional airports were temporarily closed as a precaution during the latest drone alert. No civilian casualties have been reported, but air travel and commercial logistics have been disrupted.
Poland’s actions come amid rising fears of spillover from the ongoing war in Ukraine, with NATO member states increasingly concerned about the potential for cross-border incidents. While NATO has not issued a formal response to the latest drone intrusion, Polish officials have reportedly briefed alliance partners and continue to coordinate surveillance and airspace defense measures with neighboring countries.
The Polish government has emphasized its readiness to defend national airspace and respond to further provocations. “We are treating these violations with the utmost seriousness,” a defense ministry spokesperson said. “Our armed forces are fully prepared to take necessary action.”
The situation remains fluid, with officials urging the public to remain alert but calm. Further monitoring of the eastern border is underway, and authorities have not ruled out additional security measures in the coming days.
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Russia Hits Government Building in Kyiv During Air Barrage

Poland On High Alert After Russian Drones Violate Airspace

Military

After news broke in 2015 that an Obama administration drone strike on al Qaeda had inadvertently killed multiple Americans, the former president found himself an unlikely defender: Republican presidential candidate and senator Rand Paul, one of the most outspoken drone critics in the country.
“I do think that there is a valuable use for drones,” Paul <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rand-paul-defends-obama-drone-strikes/">said</a> at the time, in comments that drove the news cycle. “And as much as I’m seen as an opponent of drones, I think in military and warfare, they do have some value.”
Flash forward ten years, and Paul isn’t giving the Trump administration the same courtesy. In response to a U.S. military strike that took out a Venezuelan drug-running boat operated by the terrorist organization Tren de Aragua, the libertarian senator is laying into Vice President JD Vance for his defense of the strike.
After leftist activist Brian Krassenstein said that the strike on the drug smugglers was a “war crime,” Vance <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-dont-give-a-s-vance-goes-viral-with-defense-of-cartel-strike?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=‘I+Don’t+Give+A+S***’%3A+Vance+Goes+Viral+With+Defense+Of+Cartel+Strike">replied</a> by saying that he didn’t “give a s***” what Krassenstein called it. The comment set off Paul, who said that the suspected terrorist drug dealers didn’t get due process and called the vice president “despicable and thoughtless.”
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-dont-give-a-s-vance-goes-viral-with-defense-of-cartel-strike?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98I+Don%E2%80%99t+Give+A+S***%E2%80%99%3A+Vance+Goes+Viral+With+Defense+Of+Cartel+Strike">‘I Don’t Give A S***’: Vance Goes Viral With Defense Of Cartel Strike</a>
“JD ‘I don’t give a s***’ Vance says killing people he accuses of a crime is the ‘highest and best use of the military,’” Paul wrote on X. “Did he ever read To Kill a Mockingbird? Did he ever wonder what might happen if the accused were immediately executed without trial or representation?? What a despicable and thoughtless sentiment it is to glorify killing someone without a trial.”
The novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” centers on the story of a black man falsely accused of rape. 
Vance hasn’t been swayed by Paul’s tirade, with a source close to the vice president calling out Paul for his selective criticism when it comes to drone strikes.
“The Vice President believes in the Trump doctrine and using overwhelming force to protect core American interests and save American lives,” the source close to Vance told The Daily Wire. “That pisses off hypocrites like Rand Paul, who during his failed run for president defended Obama droning American citizens without due process, but now is sticking up for foreign terrorists thanks to his debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
Back in April 2015, Paul said regarding the Obama drone strikes that “you really don’t get due process or anything like that if you are in a war zone.” The Obama strikes took out two American operatives of al-Qaeda and an American and a French aid worker who were being held hostage. Obama took responsibility for the deaths, saying that it was the result of an intelligence failure.
“I tend not to want to blame the president for the loss of life here. I think he was trying to do the right thing,” Paul said regarding the strike, in the same interview in which he praised the “valuable use for drones.”
Prior to his defense of Obama, Paul made a name for himself opposing drone attacks. In 2013, he did a 13-hour filibuster in opposition to John Brennan’s nomination to be CIA director, where he attacked the Obama administration for not ruling out drone attacks on American citizens. Paul pointed to that filibuster in his response to The Daily Wire, saying that he has been the “foremost critic of drones being used on civilians, especially Americans” during his time in the Senate. 
Paul told The Daily Wire that the recent strike by the Trump administration did not meet his standards. He said that the strike was not part of a “declared war” and was conducted in opposition to Coast Guard rules. He also criticized the fact that the Trump administration has not yet identified the occupants of the boat.
“The recent drone attack on a small speedboat over 2,000 miles from our shore without identification of the occupants or the content of the boat is in no way part of a declared war and defies our longstanding Coast Guard rules of engagement which include: warnings to halt, non-lethal force to capture, and ultimately lethal force in self-defense or in cases of resistance,” he said. 
The recent strike criticized by Paul was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-drone-strikes-cartel-drug-boat-trump-posts-video-for-world-to-see-beware">announced</a> last week by President Donald Trump, who said Tuesday that 11 narcoterrorist members of Tren de Aragua had been killed in international waters as they left Venezuela for the United States. 
“Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military,” Vance said on Saturday, in the comments that set off Paul. 
The Trump administration has taken increasingly strong action to target Tren de Aragua. 
In February, the violent gang was <a href="https://www.state.gov/designation-of-international-cartels">designated</a> as a foreign terrorist organization. The State Department said that the group “has conducted kidnappings, extorted businesses, bribed public officials, authorized its members to attack and kill U.S. law enforcement, and assassinated a Venezuelan opposition figure.”
Later, Trump <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/invocation-of-the-alien-enemies-act-regarding-the-invasion-of-the-united-states-by-tren-de-aragua/">invoked</a> the Alien Enemies Act to speed up the deportation process for Tren de Aragua members apprehended in the United States. The White House said that the gang had “infiltrated” the country and was conducting “irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions” against America. Trump said that the gang was using narcotics as a weapon to weaken and destabilize the country. 
After the strike last week, taking out the drug boat, Venezuela flew two armed F-16 fighter jets over the USS Jason Dunham, an Aegis guided-missile destroyer. The Pentagon said the action was a “highly provocative move” that was “designed to interfere with our counter narco-terror operations.”

MixCollage-08-Sep-2025-03-56-PM-5518

Veep’s Allies Shoots Back At ‘Hypocrite’ Rand Paul’s Drone Criticism: ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’

Barack Obama

Donald Trump

Rand Paul

Tren De Aragua

Venezuela

The Trump administration plans to issue rules to restrict or potentially bar imports of Chinese drones and medium and heavy-duty vehicles after an earlier crackdown on cars and trucks, citing national security concerns.
The U.S. Commerce Department on Friday said it plans to issue rules as soon as this month to address national security risks involving information and communications technology that is integral to drones and their supply chain, as well as vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds from countries like China and other foreign adversaries.
It did not give details on what the import rules would be.
The Commerce Department and Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately comment.
Chinese imports account for the vast majority of U.S. commercial drone sales. More than half come from DJI, the world&#8217;s largest drone manufacturer.
The planned restrictions on drones and heavy-duty vehicles follow on from similar rules already scheduled on imports of cars and other trucks.
Democratic former President Joe Biden&#8217;s administration finalized rules in January that will effectively bar nearly all Chinese cars and trucks from the U.S. market starting in late 2026, as part of a crackdown on vehicle software and hardware from China.
The Commerce Department in January said it could also target for restrictions drone systems like onboard computers, communications and flight control systems, ground control stations, operating software and data storage.
The department opened national security investigations into the import of drones and related components in July and into medium and heavy duty vehicles and parts in April, which could lead to higher tariffs.
U.S. President Donald Trump in June signed executive orders to bolster defenses against threatening drones and to boost U.S. drone manufacturing.
In December, Biden signed legislation that could eventually ban DJI and Autel from selling new drone models in the United States.
(Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Rosalba O&#8217;Brien)

DJI Mavic 4 Pro Drone

U.S. Plans Restrictions On Chinese Drones And Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Citing National Security

Communist China

Economy

Import

National Security

Politics

Trump Administration

A new report from The Wall Street Journal explains how the USDA is using movie clips and popular music to keep hungry wolves away from livestock.
One clip of audio is from the 2019 drama “Marriage Story” starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Laura Dern. The film follows a couple going through a divorce while navigating custody issues over their son. The particular scene being used by the USDA, which has been popular among meme creators for years, shows the couple embattled in a heated argument. 
<a href="https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/wolves-drones-livestock-ac-dc-scarlett-johansson-ed12d278">According</a> to WSJ, ranchers are using drones equipped with thermal cameras and spotlights to detect wolves at night, while loudspeakers blast unsettling sounds such as fireworks, gunshots, or even movie clips to keep the deadly predators at bay.
“I need the wolves to respond and know that, hey, humans are bad,” USDA district supervisor Paul Wolf told the outlet.
Playing these clips at high volume is known as “wolf hazing” and acts as a deterrent for wolves looking to turn livestock into a meal. During this hazing, the speakers blast songs such as Five Finger Death Punch’s “Blue on Black” and the AC/DC classic “Thunderstruck” to scare off the would-be predators. 
These drones are being used to protect the gray wolf population in the area, which is still on the endangered species list. But the article noted how the number of gray wolves has expanded since they were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park in 1995.
WSJ noted that fewer calves were killed in southern Oregon after the drones were introduced. Over a period of 20 days, ranchers lost 11 cattle, but after 85 days of using the music and movie clip broadcasting drones, only 2 calves fell victim to the hungry wolves.
Whether &#8220;wolf hazing&#8221; can function as a long-term strategy for the USDA remains to be seen. Ranchers Jim and Mary Rickerts are unsure of its effectiveness if the wolves become used to the drones over time. &#8220;Hopefully they’re gonna be successful, but I’m kinda betting on the wolves, truth be known,” Jim Rickerts told The Wall Street Journal.

Gray wolf

USDA Uses Movie Clip Of Marital Spat To Scare Wolves Away

Entertainment

Movies

Oregon

USDA

wildlife

With amazement, we saw how Ukraine and Israel embedded drones inside enemy territories, lying in wait until the time was right to turn them into weapons of war — all controlled remotely. This very strategic foundation is being laid throughout rooftops across America’s cities.
Drones are proliferating around the world for every imaginable use, from public safety, infrastructure inspection, delivery services, and, of course, for warfare. Cameras are getting better, flight times are increasing, and costs are coming down. These alluring trends are not slowing. Technological breakthroughs hold great promise for Americans to grow our economy and protect our nation.
While technological breakthroughs are typically created for the betterment of mankind, nefarious ideas often follow. The Wright brothers never imagined that their creation would one day be used to fly into buildings and intentionally kill over 3,000 people in one morning.
Most of the drones used in the United States are made by companies serving our main geopolitical rival, the People&#8217;s Republic of China. About <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2025/06/15/could-this-made-in-the-usa-drone-company-beat-dji/?msockid=2a1c322aee106f4a0b782763ef026e1a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three-quarters of the American drone market</a> is dominated by Chinese-made drones, meaning there are roughly <a href="https://www.faa.gov/node/54496" target="_blank" rel="noopener">700,000 Chinese drones</a> flying over our country already. As the number of Chinese drones in our airspace continues to increase by the day, the potential threat to our safety and our privacy is only growing. It’s not just Chinese drones in our skies; it’s Chinese-made drone docks on our public and private rooftops, continually networked, albeit sold and installed by American companies.
<div id="attachment_955795" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-955795" class="wp-image-955795 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2186590202-864x576.jpg" alt="A SZ DJI Technology Co. drone inside the company's Dock 2 on display during the Shanghai International Low-Altitude Economy &amp; UAV System Technology Expo in Shanghai, China, on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. The expo runs through Nov. 30. Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2186590202-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2186590202-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2186590202-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2186590202.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images.</div>
If anyone thinks that this is paranoid or excessive, remember that in China, there is effectively no such thing as a private sector. Chinese drone companies — like all other Chinese companies — are ultimately answerable to the Chinese Communist Party.
Across American cities, many drone docking stations are made by the Chinese company Shenzhen Da-Jiang Innovations Sciences and Technologies Ltd, commonly known as DJI. These <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwUwgpqgcMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DJI docks</a> are being installed at our public safety departments as &#8216;Drone as First Responder&#8217; (DFR) programs. These drone stations connect online 24/7 and can launch autonomously, thus offering real-time video surveillance. While DFR is a powerful and promising innovation in public safety, concern arises when it’s implemented using DJI systems — technology the Department of Defense classifies as Chinese military hardware. Because these systems require persistent connectivity, unlike manually flown drones, they create the perfect vector for foreign surveillance or disruption. In fact, there is evidence, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security, that the Chinese government is already using drones to spy on us.
The first responder programs, when done right, expedite emergency reactions and enhance safety, however, when performed by adversarial military hardware, it amounts to a foreign surveillance on our communities. Unfortunately, a growing number of our public safety departments are adopting drone programs that include DJI military hardware docking stations.
China has already been caught deploying unlisted technologies capable of surveilling Americans within Chinese-made <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/ghost-machine-rogue-communication-devices-found-chinese-inverters-2025-05-14/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">solar panels</a>. It is not farfetched to imagine them using their drone dominance to do the same thing — and on a massive scale. With <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chinas-buildup-of-the-surveillance-state-intelligence-matters/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">400 million cameras</a>, China also dominates the world’s <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50348861" target="_blank" rel="noopener">surveillance camera market</a>. The idea of our country’s main rival cornering both markets within our own country has been alarming for leaders in Congress and the Pentagon alike.
Recognizing the security risks associated with Chinese drones, President Trump issued a significant Executive Order (EO) advancing American leadership in drone technology. His EO is aimed at “unleashing American drone dominance” and “restoring American airspace sovereignty.” For similar national security concerns, in May of 2019, President Trump prohibited U.S. companies from doing business with Huawei, a Chinese surveillance camera company, without government approval.
Following President Trump’s lead, State and local governments have the authority to prohibit the purchase of new Chinese-manufactured drones and docks. American-made alternatives are a clear national security priority. Our modern emergency response systems should not be an intelligence gatherer or a potential saboteur for our main adversary.
This is not about fear as much as it is about foresight. Replacing Chinese drone docks with American systems is a matter of basic sovereignty, security, and common sense. Our skies should serve us, not the Chinese Communist Party.
* * *
Brad Wenstrup is a former six-term republican congressman from Ohio who served on the Intelligence and Armed Services Committees. A doctor of podiatric medicine, Wenstrup also served as a U.S. Army Reserve officer and is a recipient of the Bronze Star.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Group of drones against sunset sky

Enemy Overhead: How Chinese Drones Are Quietly Claiming American Airspace

China

Congress

Espionage

Surveillance

At least two people were killed and 15 injured after Russia launched another massive assault on Ukraine overnight into Monday, as hundreds of missiles and drone attacks rained down on the capital of Kyiv and other cities.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched roughly 450 missiles and drones, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/ukraine-drones-moscow-airport-disruptions-intl-hnk">reported</a>. The strikes occurred just hours before NATO officials were expected to meet to discuss President Donald Trump&#8217;s plan to provide more weapons to Ukraine.
“Rescue and emergency efforts are underway in our cities and communities following the Russian attack. Damage has been reported in Kyiv and the region, as well as in the Kharkiv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. Attack drones were also intercepted over the Sumy, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Poltava, and Kherson regions,” Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelensky posted on X. “Russian strikes are always an assault on humanity — in Kyiv, a kindergarten caught fire, along with residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure. Ordinary apartment buildings were damaged in Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and the region.”
Zelensky said a 12-year-old child was among those killed in the strikes. The entrance to a subway station was hit, and officials say a kindergarten caught fire due to falling debris or a direct hit.
“I am grateful to everyone working in Ukraine and with Ukraine to defend lives — to expand weapons production, strengthen our air defense, and continue work on sanctions,” he continued. “Only real pressure on Russia can stop this aggression.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Rescue and emergency efforts are underway in our cities and communities following the Russian attack. Damage has been reported in Kyiv and the region, as well as in the Kharkiv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. Attack drones were also intercepted over the Sumy, Khmelnytskyi,… <a href="https://t.co/wuNfaMwWk8">pic.twitter.com/wuNfaMwWk8</a>
&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1947193015874805776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
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In early June, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated that Ukraine has suffered between 60,000 and 100,000 deaths since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. “The Kremlin has enlisted convicts from its prisons and welcomed more than 10,000 troops from its ally North Korea, but it has left the children of Moscow and St. Petersburg elites largely untouched,” CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/04/europe/russia-war-casualties-1-million-ukraine-intl">noted</a>, adding:
<blockquote>
Instead, Moscow has recruited in the far north and far east of the country, where men have been lured by pay packages that are life-changing among poorer communities in those regions. “Putin likely considers these types of soldiers more expendable and less likely to undermine his domestic support base,” the study noted.
</blockquote>
CSIS <a href="https://www.csis.org/analysis/assessing-russian-firepower-strikes-ukraine">reported</a> in October 2024, “From September 28, 2022, to September 1, 2024, Russia launched a total of 11,466 missiles. &#8230; there were 17 days during the study period when missile launches exceeded 82 missiles in a single day. &#8230; Maintaining an average of over 23 missiles launched daily over nearly two years demonstrates a high level of sustained military capability in Moscow and logistical support from countries like Iran, North Korea, and China.”

UKRAINE-RUSSIA-CONFLICT-WAR

Russia Pounds Ukraine In Overnight Strike, School And Homes Hit

Missiles

Ukraine

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are on the cusp of striking a &#8220;mega deal&#8221; that would send battle-tested Ukrainian drones to the United States in exchange for Kyiv receiving another batch of weapons from Washington, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/07/17/us-news/trump-zelensky-discuss-drone-mega-deal-for-us-to-buy-battle-ready-ukraine-uavs/">reported</a> on Thursday.
Zelensky revealed the potential deal in a discussion with the Post, saying, &#8220;The people of America need this [drone] technology, and you need to have it in your arsenal.&#8221; If a deal is struck, Ukraine also promised to share information with the United States on what it has learned about modern warfare during the conflict with Russia, according to Zelensky.
“I think this is really a mega deal, a win-win, as they say,” he said.
The White House did not respond to The Daily Wire&#8217;s request to comment.
Throughout the war, Ukraine&#8217;s drone fleet has proved to be vital in defending the country from Russia&#8217;s aerial assaults. Kyiv&#8217;s drones have also been used to launch attacks on Russia. Last month, Ukraine smuggled 117 drones into Russia, which were used for a massive assault on Russian air bases, taking out 41 Russian aircraft, including roughly one-third of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-ukraine-pulled-off-its-massive-drone-strike-inside-russia">reported</a>.
The United States military has fallen behind its adversaries, including Russia and China, in producing drones and training troops to use them in battle, according to a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/business/drones-us-military-manufacturing-lags.html">report</a> earlier this week from The New York Times. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged that the United States must catch up on drone warfare technology and <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2025/Jul/10/2003752117/-1/-1/1/UNLEASHING-U.S.-MILITARY-DRONE-DOMINANCE.PDF">moved</a> last week to rescind “restrictive policies” and &#8220;red tape&#8221; getting in the way &#8220;of American manufacturing and warfighter ingenuity.&#8221;
“So while our adversaries have produced millions of cheap drones before us, we were mired in bureaucratic red tape. Not anymore,” Hegseth said in a video filmed alongside U.S. military members outside the Pentagon.
&#8220;In June, President Trump issued an executive order unleashing American drone dominance to bolster our drone industry and arm our warfighters because that&#8217;s what we&#8217;re all about,&#8221; he added.
Hegseth said that the move includes bolstering &#8220;the nascent U.S. drone manufacturing base by approving hundreds of American products for purchase by our military.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance <a href="https://twitter.com/DOGE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DOGE</a> <a href="https://t.co/esaQtswwDb">pic.twitter.com/esaQtswwDb</a>
&mdash; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1943748870993064004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Trump&#8217;s relationship with Zelensky has grown warmer in recent weeks after the Ukrainian president was blasted in the Oval Office in February for his continued requests for American assistance. Earlier this month, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-have-to-trump-to-send-ukraine-more-defensive-weapons?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98We+Have+To%E2%80%99%3A+Trump+To+Send+Ukraine+More+Defensive+Weapons">vowed</a> to send Ukraine more defensive weapons as Moscow ratchets up attacks on Ukrainian cities.
“They are getting hit very hard. … We’re gonna have to send more weapons,&#8221; Trump said, adding, “I’m disappointed, frankly, that President Putin hasn’t stopped.”

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky

Trump Considering ‘Mega Deal’ To Exchange Drones, Weapons With Zelensky

Pete Hegseth

U.S. Military

The Pentagon is cutting bureaucratic hurdles to unleash “American drone dominance” and outcompete hostile powers such as China and Russia.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a slate of reforms to jolt U.S. production of drones and equip U.S. service members with the skills to use them effectively. The Department of Defense posted a video on social media Thursday of Hegseth signing orders delivered by drone.
“While our adversaries have produced millions of cheap drones before us, we were mired in bureaucratic red tape. Not anymore,” Hegseth said. 
After noting that President Donald Trump signed an executive <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/06/president-trump-signs-executive-orders-on-drones-flying-cars-and-supersonics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">order</a> in June to energize the drone industry in the United States, Hegseth said, &#8220;Today, I&#8217;m rescinding restrictive policies that stifle production. And this will unleash American manufacturing and the ingenuity of our war fighters.”
The Pentagon’s newest drone strategy has three main pillars, according to Hegseth. First, the Department of Defense will prioritize buying American-made drones to help expand drone-making on the domestic front.
Second, Hegseth said the military would leverage the United States’ &#8220;world-leading engineers and AI experts&#8221; to arm combat units with drones. And third, the secretary plans to stamp out a risk-averse mindset that he suggested has held back senior military staff from innovating with drones.
“We&#8217;re going to train as we expect to fight,” Hegseth said. “Senior officers must overcome bureaucratic risk aversion in budgeting, weaponing, weaponeering, and training.”
“This is the future. We&#8217;re in the fight. We&#8217;re in the fight to win it. And we’re never going to back down,” he concluded.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance <a href="https://twitter.com/DOGE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DOGE</a> <a href="https://t.co/ueqQPc7rKI">pic.twitter.com/ueqQPc7rKI</a>
&mdash; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1943401411431026977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Hegseth’s orders will allow for the first time commanders with the ranks of colonel or captain to obtain and test drones that meet national security standards, according to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hegseth-tears-up-red-tape-orders-pentagon-begin-drone-surge-trumps-command">Fox News</a>, which first obtained the memos signed on Thursday. The orders also cut through a series of approval processes so that the drones may be tested immediately.
The orders reclassified drones from being durable military assets to consumables, taking them out of bureaucratic tracking systems and allowing faster acquisition. The orders also directed military officials to coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration on expanding range restrictions where needed and setting up sites for military training in drone use.
Drones have recently played major roles in the Ukraine-Russia war and in the Middle East. 
Ukraine and Russia used drones to attack and hamper each other’s forces. Israel employed drones as part of its &#8220;Operation Rising Lion&#8221; to damage Iran’s military command structure and nuclear program.

Hegseth Unleashes U.S. Military ‘Drone Dominance’

U.S. Military To Unleash ‘American Drone Dominance’ To Compete With China, Russia

Pentagon

United States

Ahead of high-stakes peace talks in Istanbul, Ukraine says it carried out an audacious drone attack that destroyed over 40 Russian military planes at airfields, including Belaya air base in Russia’s Irkutsk region.
Planned for over a year and overseen by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the operation involved drones smuggled deep into Russia via truck containers, a Ukrainian security official <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-sumy-region-18966d4b286ffb6f4e764b94a6afaf61" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> The Associated Press. Also noted by the news outlet, Russia conducted its own attack with 472 drones and several missiles, killing at least 12 Ukrainian service members and injuring over 60 others, according to Ukraine&#8217;s air force.
The assaults, which happened before Monday’s planned negotiations in Turkey, underscore the fragile prospects for peace.
Zelensky, <a href="https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1929145331696239049" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posting</a> on X, outlined Ukraine’s demands: &#8220;First — a full and unconditional ceasefire. Second — the release of prisoners. Third — the return of abducted children.&#8221; He added: &#8220;And in order to establish a reliable and lasting peace and ensure security, preparation of the meeting at the highest level. The key issues can only be resolved by the leaders. On Monday, our delegation will be led by Rustem Umerov.&#8221;
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday&amp;_gl=1*1qdq03s*_gcl_au*MTYyNDg0MTE0OS4xNzQxODk4NTMz*_ga*MTEzOTk1NjkxNi4xNzI2MzI1MDQz*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*czE3NDgzNzg2NDgkbzEwMDMkZzEkdDE3NDgzODEwMTckajU4JGwwJGgw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
Russia’s state-run TASS <a href="https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1929182444097327484" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quoted</a> envoy Rodion Miroshnik accusing Kyiv of &#8220;destabilizing the situation&#8221; ahead of the talks.
President Donald Trump, a vocal critic of the war’s escalation, has taken to Truth Social to lambast both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky.
&#8220;I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY! He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever. I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!&#8221; Trump said in a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114571369956761390" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent</a> post on Truth Social.
&#8220;Likewise, President Zelenskyy is doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does,&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop. This is a War that would never have started if I were President. This is Zelenskyy’s, Putin’s, and [former President Joe] Biden’s War, not &#8216;Trump’s,&#8217; I am only helping to put out the big and ugly fires, that have been started through Gross Incompetence and Hatred.&#8221;

Drone operators perform combat tasks in Zaporizhzhia direction

Ukraine Says It Obliterated 40 Russian Military Planes In Drone Attack

In a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/04/text-of-a-letter-from-the-president-to-the-speaker-of-the-house-of-representatives-and-the-president-pro-tempore-of-the-senate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> released on Tuesday to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate President Pro Tempore Charles Grassley (R-IA), President Donald Trump stated that he had directed the Department of Defense to deploy additional forces equipped for combat into the Middle East to counter Houthi attacks on American shipping.
In the letter, dated March 28, Trump noted that he was following his duty to keep Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution.
He started by pointing out that the Houthis in Yemen had “perpetrated piratical aggressions against shipping and have continued to threaten and attack United States forces in the airspace and waters in and around Yemen,” continuing, “I will no longer allow this band of pirates to threaten and attack United States forces and commercial vessels in one of the most important shipping lanes in the world.”
“Consistent with my commitment to defend United States forces and to uphold navigational rights and freedoms,” Trump wrote, he directed the Department of Defense to “move additional forces equipped for combat into the Middle East to enhance the defensive capabilities available to United States forces and facilitate necessary military actions. These forces include capabilities for air and missile defense of Israel and of locations hosting United States forces as well as fighter, support, and reconnaissance aircraft to enable strikes on Houthi targets.”
“Forces under United States Central Command have commenced large-scale strikes in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen to eliminate the capabilities the Houthis use for attacks on United States forces and commercial ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters,” he acknowledged. “United States Navy ships and aircraft, along with United States Air Force bombers, fighters, and unmanned aircraft, operating in and around Yemen, have participated in these strikes. Targets have included Houthi leadership and equipment, command and control facilities, and munitions storage facilities. We will continue these decisive military operations until the Houthi threat to United States forces and navigational rights and freedoms in the Red Sea and adjacent waters has abated.”
“I directed these actions consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct United States foreign relations. I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action,” he concluded.
In addition to their <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/houthi-terrorists-strike-u-s-cargo-ship-carrying-humanitarian-aid-to-yemen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attacks on American-owned ships</a>, the Houthis have shot down a number of Reaper drones with surface-to-air missiles, some Russian-made. “The strikes against MQ-9 Reaper drones impair US intelligence and targeting systems and help the Houthis shore up domestic and regional support. And, with the Houthis’ ties to China, Russia, and Iran, downed MQ-9 Reaper drones could end up in the hands of U.S. adversaries,” the Atlantic Council <a href="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/houthi-strikes-on-us-mq9-reaper-drones/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a>. “Tactically, the Houthi shootdowns of MQ-9 drones primarily aim to blind the US intelligence and targeting systems. &#8230; Russia has significantly deepened <a href="https://gulfif.org/russian-support-for-yemens-houthi-movement/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">political engagements</a> with the Houthis &#8230; Beijing seems to have intensified engagement with the Houthis since mid-November 2023.”

US-POLITICS-TRUMP-EASTER-EGG ROLL

Trump Orders Troops To Middle East To Counter Houthi Attacks

Department of Defense

Executive

Houthis

Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on the area of Moscow on Tuesday amid ongoing peace negotiations attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia.
During the attack, during which 343 drones were downed over Russia, three employees of a meat warehouse were killed and 17 other people were injured, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-launches-drone-attacks-targeting-moscow-russia-says-2025-03-11/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The attack reportedly caused Moscow’s four airports to be temporarily shut down.
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, residential buildings were also struck.
Russia attacked Ukraine on Tuesday with a ballistic missile and 126 drones over various parts of the country, injuring two people, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-air-force-says-it-downed-russian-ballistic-missile-79-drones-2025-03-11/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
The ballistic Iskander-M missile and 79 of the drones were shot down, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. The attack reportedly set a fuel storage facility, a private home, and a storage site for children’s toys, on fire in Odesa, according to Reuters.
President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-warns-of-sanctions-on-russia-if-no-peace-is-achieved" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expressed</a> frustration with Russia on Friday for “absolutely pounding Ukraine on the battlefield” amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations. Trump said he is considering imposing sanctions on Russia until a peace deal is reached.
Rubio and other American officials met with their Ukrainian counterparts in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Several hours into the meetings, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told reporters, &#8220;We&#8217;re getting there.&#8221;
On Monday, Rubio and Waltz met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman Al Saud in Jeddah, where Rubio thanked the Saudi leader for hosting the United States in talks to help resolve the Ukraine war.
The U.S.-moderated peace talks come just weeks after Trump and Vice President JD Vance <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-and-vance-clash-with-zelensky-in-fiery-white-house-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clashed</a> with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a broadcast White House meeting last month that ended with the Ukrainian leader being asked to leave. Zelensky <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/zelensky-backtracks-after-missteps-with-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">backtracked</a> a few days later, committing to being ready to negotiate peace.

US And Ukrainian Delegations Meet In Saudi Arabia

Ukraine Launches Massive Drone Attack On Russia Amid Ongoing Peace Talks In Saudi Arabia 

Marco Rubio

Saudi Arabia

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