Ukraine Drones Force Russia To Close Moscow Airports, Shut Mobile Internet

Ukrainian drone attacks forced the Kremlin to shut down Moscow's airports, cancelling hundreds of flights and stranding thousands of passengers. This is the second time in a month this has happened. 

In addition, mobile internet service in at least three Russian provinces was turned off in an attempt to deny GPS signals to Ukrainian drones. These drone attacks are part of a Ukrainian strategy to make the Russian people in the country's most powerful and wealthiest region feel the impact of the war. JL

Isabel Van Brugen reports in Newsweek:

Flights at Moscow's Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Sheremetyevo airports are severely disrupted, with hundreds of flights cancelled leaving thousands of passengers stranded. The airports have been operating intermittently since midday on Wednesday due to ongoing drone attacks. Russia was also forced to shut down internet access in the Oryol, Tula and Vladimir regions and restrict airspace after a large-scale Ukrainian drone assault overnight.

Russian Troops Plant Flag In Donetsk Village For Propaganda Video. Then Are Killed

Russian forces have been trying to take the village of Vilne Pole in Donetsk for over two months. This week they sent scouts to infiltrate part of the village and plant a flag for a propaganda video claiming they had captured it. 

But they were being tracked by Ukrainian drones throughout the exercise. As soon as they planted their flag, they were killed. The flag was then taken by Ukrainian troops. The immediately irrelevant video was probably intended both as a provocation to the Ukrainians - and as a means of placating frustrated Kremlin officials. JL 

Roman Pryhodko reports in Militarnyi:

Russian troops entered the village of Vilne Pole in Donetsk intending to raise the Russian flag and film a propaganda video. Within minutes, they were eliminated. Ukraine's 15th Mountain Assault Battalion and 31st Mechanized Brigade monitored the movement of enemy infantry and destroyed them using FPV drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras and drop systems. Operators of the 15th Battalion were able to detect, identify, and eliminate the Russian soldiers. The Russian flag was destroyed, and the Ukrainian flag was raised in its place in the settlement. Russian forces have been trying to capture the village for two months, without success. 

How Ukrainian Drone Regiments' War Is Like "Fighting In the Matrix"

As drones have become the dominant weapon of this war, Ukrainian drone units are being upgraded to the size of battalions, regiments and even brigades.

They are adding specialists in a variety of disciplines to increase the already impressive effectiveness of their efforts, which is turning their drone war into something out of the movies, "like a version of The Matrix." JL

Roman Romaniuk reports in Ukraine Pravda:

We're watching on a monitor, like a low-res version of a video game. When the tank image appears, the feeling in the 412th Nemesis Regiment command post is unfiltered hunter's excitement. To get one a UAV ready, the field team must remove already-mounted payloads, retrieve anti-armour munitions, and rearm the drone in the darkness. The Russian tank crew have ten minutes before a drone is hurtling towards them. The tank moves sluggishly along the wooded area – and then boom - the screen lights up with a bright white explosion. Every day these people destroy dozens of Russian vehicles and kill or maim hundreds of Russian soldiers. But it’s scrawny IT guys with cappuccinos on their desks. "It's like a version of The Matrix."

Ukrainian Navy Reports No Russian Naval Ships Remain In Black Sea, Sea of Azov

There are no longer any Russian warships in the seas contiguous to Ukrainian territory, according to the Ukrainian Navy due to the success Ukraine has had in sinking or disabling Russian naval vessels, making those seas unsafe for Russian assets.

This total does not include the Russian warships sunk by the Ukrainians, which may be resting below the Black and Azov seas. JL

Ukrinform reports:

There are no longer any Russian ships in the Black Sea or the Sea of Azov (seas adjacent to Ukrainian territory). There are 3 Russian ships in the Mediterranean, of which 1 is a carrier of Kalibr cruise missiles with a total volley of up to 8 missiles. During the past day, from the Russian Federation, the Kerch Strait was passed by: 5 ships to the Black Sea, 3 of which continued to move towards the Bosphorus; 6 ships to the Sea of Azov, 2 of which moved from the Bosphorus.

Why Tesla's Cybertruck Is Now Officially A Flop

Not only have sales more than halved from their peak in July 2024, but now comes notification to owners that the Cybertruck's value has depreciated by 45% in the ten months since it debuted (most cars depreciate around 30% within the first two years).

The eight recalls since its introduction no doubt contributed to potential customers' loss of interest, but news that Cybertruck owners felt compelled to form a Facebook group for mutual support due to the abuse they were receiving is indicative of how public perception of the truck - amid overall Tesla brand decline - has cratered. JL

Jesus Diaz reports in Fast Company:

The Cybertruck is a flop. Sales peaked at 5,175 units in July 2024, falling to 2,000 units sold in April 2025. Now, the Cybertruck has depreciated by 45% after only one year: so bad that Tesla wasn’t accepting them as trade-ins until three days ago. A $100,000 AWD Foundation Series with 6,200 miles on the odometer is now worth $65,400, a 34.6% drop in one year (on average, cars depreciate 30% in the first two years). "Tesla’s online ‘trade-in estimates’ are often higher than the final offer.” Its many design and quality failures -doors that sever fingers, a gas pedal that cause uncontrollable acceleration, and falling trim that cause accidents - are just a few examples of problems that has resulted in eight recalls since its debut.

Putin Rejects Ukraine Peace Because He Claims He's Winning. His Military Says Not

European leaders are reporting that President Trump admitted in a phone call with them what knowledgeable experts could see: that Putin has no interest in a ceasefire or peace in Ukraine. 

But, of equal interest, the reason given is that Putin claims he is winning. The problem with that is that most military and civilian observers say that is patently false and  the data support their point of view. Most shockingly, the Russian military are privately and quietly acknowledging that Putin's goals are 'unachievable.' The pace of Russian advances has slowed to a third of what they were just six months ago while casualties have risen to the highest of the war. Though Russia could probably keep this up for some months, Ukraine's performance suggests it can continue to resist without fear of Russian breakthroughs. JL 

Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and Kyiv Post report:

In a phone call with European leaders Monday, the US President acknowledged the Kremlin doesn’t want peace in Ukraine because it believes Russia is winning. (But) a Bloomberg report says statistics do not support Putin’s optimism; that despite the numerical advantage Russia’s forces enjoy, they remain a long way from achieving Putin’s aims. Moscow’s military (privately) consider the goals set by the Kremlin to be unachievable, saying they have only “minor tactical success” at a high price in killed and wounded despite claims made by their leader. In 2025, the data show Russia's pace of advance is less than a third of that achieved at the end of 2024. Russia currently occupies less than 20% of Ukraine’s territory, less than the 30% it captured in the first months of its invasion.

Ukrainian Mechanic Under Fire Rescues Disabled APC With Only 3 Wheels

In a testament both to the durability of the armored vehicles being supplied to Ukraine and to the bravery of Ukrainian soldiers - in this case an Ukrainian army mechanic - the soldier dashed into no-mans land, assessed that the disabled vehicle's engine was working, inflating its three remaining tires and drove it back to safety behind his own lines. JL  

Sofiia Syngaivska reports in Defense Express:

Near Kupiansk, a Ukrainian M1224 Maxxpro MRAP (mine resistant ambush protected) armored personnel carrier was struck by Russian fire. Despite the hit, the MaxxPro vehicle's reinforced hull protected the crew, who dismounted, leaving the disabled vehicle. A logistics specialist from the unit, recognizing the vehicle's value, raced back under the cover of friendly fire. Upon inspection, he confirmed the engine remained operable. He re-inflated three of its tires, jammed the damaged wheel in a makeshift brace, and, with metal grinding across asphalt and sparks flying, hauled the 14-ton vehicle to safety.