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Yevhen Khmara in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine, on Aug. 18, 2026.
Opinion

Shells, stalled contracts, and no armor for wounded — Ukraine's new defense minister's problem list

by Bohdan Miroshnychenko

Weapons production in Ukraine has a mountain of problems: short contracts, scandals over ammunition and other complex equipment procurement, inefficient drone purchasing, leaky quality control and oversight of manufacturers' capabilities, export rules that don't work, funding shortages, and more. All of this ultimately adds up to poor supply for troops at the front. Neither the dismissed minister Mykhailo Fedorov nor any other "six-month defense minister" has come even close to solving these p

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Friday, August 28

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine must mobilize at least 30,000 people monthly, Budanov says

Key developments on Aug. 28: * Ukraine must mobilize at least 30,000 people per month, Budanov says, warning war won't end soon * Ukrainian drones target one of Russia's largest oil refineries in Yaroslavl, Tu-95 bomber at Engels base in overnight attack * Russia has destroyed 90% of Ukraine's modern storage facilities, minister says * Russia considers placing troops, weapons on civilian ships as it struggles to protect shadow fleet, Zelensky says * Russian attack destroys one of Ukraine's

A bridge, missiles, and billions in revenue: North Korea's role in Russia's war deepens again

No longer a minor player, Pyongyang has become an essential cog in Russia's war machine. Now, Kyiv warns that its role may grow further still — but not overnight. Ukrainian intelligence in August issued alarming warnings hinting that Russia could soon ask North Korea to contribute up to 50,000 more of its troops for its war against Ukraine, with missiles, drone operators, and technical brigades to follow. This influx of additional troops and materiel would come on top of the soldiers, shells,

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