Ukraine Troops Get Same Day Drone Food Delivery; Contrast With Starving Russians

This winter, reports abound of Russian troops at the front literally starving for lack of supplies due to their chronically dysfunctional logistics. 

By contrast, frontline Ukrainian troops can request specific creature comforts both to enliven the monotony of military rations - and to keep up morale. Amazon could evidently learn a thing or two from the Ukrainians. JL

Oleksandr Chubko and Cassandra Vinograd report in the New York Times:

Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline can request same day airdrops of provisions by drone. Ukraine has mastered such deliveries out of necessity, in a war where drones are synonymous with death and destruction. With attack drones dominating the battlefield,  movements carry exceptional risk. That has made it harder to send supplies to frontline soldiers, a challenge Ukraine has increasingly met with  unmanned aircraft, dropped under cover of night. Much of the work is done by heavy Ukrainian Vampire drones, which can switch from killing Russians to delivering creature comforts. They fly in harsh weather, and are harder than other drones to shoot down. Each bag is unique, based on soldiers’ requests: Water. Apples. Newspaper. Crushed buckwheat. Instant noodles. Sugar. Condensed milk. Loose-leaf tea. Toilet paper. Onions. Hand warmers — lots.

Ukraine Daily Strikes On Logistics In 100s Starving Russian Front Forces

An unheralded aspect of Ukrainian strategy is having a significant impact on Russia's inability to launch effective advances this winter. 

The Ukrainians are specifically targeting logistic truck convoys, especially fuel tankers, to the extent that the losses have climbed into the triple digits daily. The result is that the poorly clothed and equipped Russians are less effective because they are cold, hungry and short on ammunition. JL

Decimus reports in Daily Kos:

The tally of Russian losses focuses on personnel, tanks, armored personnel carriers and artillery systems. Down the list is another category, barely remarked on vehicles and fuel tanks without which soldiers are left without the means to fight, they go hungry, are without potable water, are left cold and saddled with inoperative weapons. The daily unhappy tally for Russia in this category which at the onset of their invasion of Ukraine numbered in single digits has climbed into triple digits. Reliance by Russia on slower, more vulnerable networks is now hobbling Russia’s war effort on the battlefield… an army being slowly starved.

Kremlin Alleges Ukraine Counteroffensive To Cover Up Earlier False Gains Claims

Ukrainian forces in Zaporizhzhia oblast are making opportunistic probing attacks to create local, tactical breakthoughs as the limits imposed on illegal Russian Starlink usage have disrupted their communications. 

But the Kremlin is claiming the Ukrainians have launched a counteroffensive with all the weight and power that implies. Knowledgeable observers believe these claims are exaggerations to cover up the Russians' earlier false boasts of advances which have been increasingly disproved by neutral analysts. The game, at this point, is to try to win perceptions of momentum as Trump pushes for a ceasefire in order to burnish his reputation prior to US midterm elections later this year. JL

David Kirichenko reports in Forbes:

Russia says Ukraine has launched a counteroffensive in Zaporizhzhia. The claim surfaced just as limits on Russian access to Starlink began disrupting frontline communications. (But) The Institute for the Study of War assessed that Russian forces fabricated reports of a Ukrainian counteroffensive in order to walk back earlier false claims about their own advances in the Huliaipole and Oleksandrivka sectors. Russian units overstated territorial gains and later invoked Ukrainian counterattacks as an explanation for why those positions weren't held. Rather than a map-changing push, Ukraine’s probing, local breakthroughs and attrition are degrading Russian logistics and forcing Moscow to plug gaps. “With Trump pushing for a deal, both sides know this is about shaping the political atmosphere in which a deal might be forced.”

Ukraine Destroys Russia's New AI Strike Drone On One Of First Sorties

Russia's highly touted AI drone didn't last long in the real world. In one of its first few sorties over the front, Ukrainian gunners from the 118th Mechanized Brigade shot one down with what they thought was remarkable ease. 

The Russian drone is made with smuggled foreign technology and Chinese parts. Back to the drawing board, comrades. JL

Vlad Litnaroych reports in United24:

Ukrainian forces  have destroyed a newly developed Russian strike drone known as the Klin which Moscow had promoted as an AI-enabled, Shahed-type unmanned system. The drone was intercepted and eliminated during one of its first combat sorties after entering the 118th Mechanized brigade’s area of responsibility on February 10th. Russian developers had claimed the drone could autonomously detect and strike targets at  distances of up to 120 kilometers. In its initial real-world use, the aircraft was quickly shot down by Ukrainian defenders.

Why the US 'Fast Track' Ukraine-Russia Peace Proposal Is Likely To Fail

The Trump administration wants a fast track peace deal because ending the war was a signature claim of his campaign in 2024. So as midterm elections approach in which his party's prospects are diminishing - to put it kindly - he is looking for 'wins' to burnish his reputation as a leader. 

The problem is that his pal, Putin's, army remains incapable of winning on the battlefield while he is maintaining is maximalist demands from four years ago. Demands he has been unable to achieve on his own. To reach a deal under current circumstances would mean Ukraine surrendering on multiple points which, due to their military prowess, they do not need to do. And finally, neither Trump nor Putin are known for honoring any agreements on any subject, so no one in Europe will trust them to keep their word on this one, making all the fast track huffing and puffing a performative waste of time. JL

Mick Ryan reports in Futura Doctrina:

Why might the Administration want to fast-track a peace deal? Trump wants to deliver on his promise to end the war in Ukraine (before this year's mid-term elections). Second, he and his supporters economic opportunities in Russia. (But) Putin has shown zero inclination to change his strategic demands to destroy Ukraine’s sovereignty. (And) he cannot afford peace right now. Russia is not anywhere close to a victory, so ending the conflict could be fatal for Putin. There is no conceivable future where Putin keeps his word about any peace deal. He and his forces have ignored multiple agreements reached during this war, as well as truce agreements in Ukraine that Russia began in 2014.

Ukraine Smashes Latest Russian Armor Assault On Pokrovsk

Ukrainian forces defending Pokrovsk smashed a company sized Russian attack - the largest the Kremlin is now capable of mounting - killing the Russian troops and destroying their armored vehicles. 

This is latest repulsion of a Russian attack in the Pokrovsk sector since the beginning of the year. Ukrainian commanders report that the Russians are not as capable or forceful in attacking as they were three months ago due to manpower and logistics problems which have plagued the Russians for the past year. JL

Julia Struck reports in the Kyiv Post:

In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian forces repelled a large-scale Russian breakthrough attempt by mobile assault groups, with two days of fierce fighting ending in the complete defeat of Moscow’s troops. Aerial reconnaissance detected Russian movements in time, allowing Ukrainian units to strike and disrupt the offensive. As a result, an entire Russian assault company - typically 45 to 360 personnel, depending on unit type - and their equipment were destroyed. Russian forces are also suffering heavy losses from lack of body armor and, because of minimal logistics, frostbite. Ukrainian defenders report the Russians are not as able to carry out assaults as they were three months ago.

AI Unicorn Founders Get Younger, Firms Scale 2 Years Faster Vs Other Industries

AI is a newer technology, so it stands to reason that founders of AI startups, particularly those which attain billion dollar 'unicorn' status, would be younger, reflecting the recency of developments in the field and their training in academia or research labs. of other fields, founders are actually getting older, with an average of 12+ years of experience, reflecting the benefits of learning how - or how not - to manage and grow profitably. 

AI startups are also scaling faster than those in other industries due to the combined pressure of FOMO  and the staggering costs required to achieve and then maintain competitiveness. It is prudent to assume that this age 'advantage' will disappear as the technology matures, competition stiffens and the demand for optimization highlights other leadership characteristics. JL

Sawdah Bhaimiya reports in CNBC:

A new report by early-stage venture capital firm Antler, found the age of founders of AI unicorns has fallen from age 40 in 2021 to 29 in 2024. Antler analyzed 1,629 unicorns and 3,512 founders globally. In other industries, founder age is rising. In 2014, the average unicorn founder was 30 at the time of launch, compared with 34 for those who reached unicorn status between 2022 and 2024. Many founders are in their mid-to late-20s, often coming straight from academia or research labs rather than corporate careers. AI startups are scaling two years faster than other industries, reaching unicorn status in an average of 4.7 years. "To be technically fluent with a lot of the emerging technology, it helps to be young, because that’s what you’ve learned recently.”