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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Ukraine war latest: Nearly 2,000 drones fired at Ukraine in one week as Russia draws out attacks

Key developments on Aug. 29-30: * Nearly 2,000 drones fired at Ukraine in one week as Russia draws out attacks * 'Explosions every few minutes' — At least 38 killed after Russian drone strike on ammunition depot near Kyiv * Putin-Trump-Zelensky summit possible only to 'formalize agreements,' Peskov says * Russia planning operation in northern Ukraine, including Kyiv, military says * Ukrainian drones destroy Russian air defense, radar systems at Yeysk, Millerovo airfields Russia launched n

Missile strike hits Belgorod, reportedly damaging Ozon facility and power plant

Russia's Belgorod came under a missile attack on Aug. 30, with a logistics facility housing an Ozon sorting center and delivery hub damaged in the strike, according to Russian officials and the company. The attack comes as Ukraine continues targeting Russian military and logistics infrastructure that supports Moscow's war effort. Acting Belgorod Oblast Governor Alexander Shuvaev said there were casualties and several fires following what he described as a Ukrainian attack. He did not specify t

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