Defencematters.eu Correspondents
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Defencematters.eu Correspondents
Report: Russian-made small arms entering Italy via mafia channels and ‘shadow fleet’
Italian investigative outlet Linkiesta has reported that Russian-origin small arms and ammunition have been moved covertly into Italy through mafia structures, with consignments routed by sea and overland and then warehoused by clans for resale or contingency use. The report,…
Estonia summons Russian envoy after MiG-31 incursion; Poland reports low passes over Petrobaltic Baltic platform
Estonia summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires in Tallinn on Friday, 19 September, after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland and remained for around 12 minutes. The Estonian Foreign Ministry issued a formal note of…
Trump withholds Taiwan security aid as White House pursues talks with Beijing
President Donald Trump declined to approve a US$400 million–plus military aid package for Taiwan over the summer, as his administration seeks a trade agreement and a possible autumn summit with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, according to multiple reports. The move…
Ukraine targets Russian energy sites in Bashkortostan and Volgograd
Ukrainian forces struck two major energy facilities deep inside Russia overnight on 17–18 September, hitting the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat petrochemical complex in Bashkortostan and the Lukoil-operated Volgograd oil refinery. Regional authorities in Bashkortostan reported a fire at the Salavat site…
Poland signals interest in nuclear sharing after Russian drone incursions
Poland’s new president, Karol Nawrocki, has signalled that Warsaw wants to participate in NATO’s nuclear-sharing arrangements and to develop “its own nuclear capabilities — energy, civilian and military”. Speaking in a televised interview with France’s LCI on 16–17 September, Mr…
Polish media: F-16 missile likely damaged house during drone incursion
A house damaged during Russia’s mass drone incursion into Polish airspace on 10 September was likely struck by a malfunctioning air-to-air missile fired from a Polish F-16, rather than by a falling drone, according to a report by the daily…
India sends 65 troops to Russian–Belarusian ‘Zapad-2025’ drills as tariffs row with Washington reshapes regional alignments
India has deployed a 65-strong contingent to Russia’s Mulino training ground for the multilateral military exercise “Zapad-2025”, marking New Delhi’s first participation in the Russian–Belarusian war games and signalling continued defence ties with Moscow amid heightened trade tensions with the…
Chinese and Philippine vessels collide near Scarborough Shoal as Beijing cites ‘control measures’
China and the Philippines have reported a collision between their vessels near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, with Beijing accusing a Philippine ship of “deliberately” ramming a China Coast Guard craft and Manila flatly denying the claim. China…
America’s Drone Export Shift Signals a New Era of Allied Military Power
The United States’ decision to loosen export controls on military drones marks not only an industrial milestone but also a profound strategic pivot. By reinterpreting how the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) applies to unmanned aerial vehicles, Washington has taken…
Ukraine’s low-cost ‘fire-and-forget’ kit brings autonomy to the FPV battlefield
Two Ukrainian firms have begun mass production of what they describe as an inexpensive, “fire-and-forget” upgrade for first-person-view (FPV) drones, aiming to lift strike confirmation rates while keeping unit costs in the hobby-class bracket. Drone maker Vyriy is integrating The…