AGP Executive Report

Ukrainian AI for command: Ukraine’s Armed Forces unveiled “Marichka,” an AI battlefield planning system meant to cut brigade/regiment decision-making from 6–12 hours to minutes by processing documents, comparing forces, estimating losses, and updating plans as conditions change. Military leadership + tech integration: President Zelenskyy offered ex-Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov the post of Deputy Prime Minister for Military Innovation to coordinate defense technology across the Ministry of Defense, the Commander-in-Chief, and the president. Frontline tech + targeting claims: Ukraine’s SBU says Russia has used Geran-2 drones with radioactive components, reporting radiation up to 80x background and alleging depleted uranium in wreckage, with a criminal probe opened. Drones and procurement momentum: Multiple reports highlight Ukraine’s growing drone ecosystem and international testing deals, including U.S.-Ukraine drone cooperation and new drone/robot concepts aimed at faster, cheaper battlefield effects. Civil resilience: Ukraine updated preschool building regulations (effective Oct 1, 2026) to allow more flexible, smaller-capacity, barrier-free kindergarten designs aligned with European approaches. Cultural protection: UNESCO listed Chersonesus in Crimea as world heritage in danger, citing Russian occupation-related damage and looting risks.

5G Rollout in Kyiv: Kyivstar, Vodafone Ukraine, and lifecell turned on a joint 5G pilot across the capital, expanding Ukraine’s 5G testing footprint with gigabit-class speeds in major landmarks and transit hubs. Military Shake-Up: After mass protests, President Zelensky fired Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as Commander-in-Chief, with soldiers and civilians welcoming the change but still pushing for the return of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Deep Strikes Inside Russia: Ukraine hit two more Wildberries warehouses in Russia’s Krasnodar and Stavropol regions, targeting logistics tied to drone components and equipment for the Russian military. Drone Precision Upgrade: Ukraine cleared the Firefly precision-guidance kit for serial production, aiming to let drone-bombers strike fortified positions from up to 800 meters. Counter-Drone Tech Trend: Airbus unveiled the reusable Bird of Prey interceptor drone to tackle one-way attack drones with lower per-intercept costs. Energy Pressure from War: Fuel markets stayed tight as attacks around Hormuz and Red Sea disruptions compounded supply constraints, while Russia’s diesel export ban linked to Ukrainian drone attacks kept prices elevated.

Ukraine Military Shake-Up: President Zelenskyy dismissed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi, while also reshuffling the General Staff; Drapatyi says Ukraine will intensify counteroffensives “in all domains,” plan new rear-area operations, and push military tech and asymmetric solutions. Defense Tech & Industrial Scale-Up: BAE Systems signed a licensing deal to produce its L119 105mm Light Gun in Ukraine, aiming at a Ukraine-tailored variant and building domestic industrial resilience. Drone Cooperation with the US: Kyiv and Washington signed a statement of intent to enable temporary export of Ukrainian drones to the US for Pentagon testing, setting a framework for future unmanned systems collaboration. Ukrainian 5G Rollout: Kyiv began testing 5G mobile communications in the city center, with expansion planned to Odesa after pilot results. Space/ASAT Watch: New reporting on Russia’s Nudol anti-satellite program highlights continued reliance on foreign-made materials and details of the Kosmos-1408 interception. EU Security Signals: Germany approved a controversial French-Russian nuclear fuel-rod project, while NATO leaders stress readiness for drone-saturated battlefields like Ukraine’s. Tax Admin Tech: The IMF urged Ukraine to simplify VAT administration for small businesses before expanding mandatory VAT registration.

Ukraine Military Shake-up: After days of mass protests, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi as commander-in-chief, promising steady operations and continued long-range strikes while offering ousted Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov a “worthy” government role focused on strengthening Ukraine’s technology push. Drone-Era Defense Industry: Ukraine signed a BAE Systems deal to start domestic production of the L119 105 mm lightweight howitzer, and MBDA unveiled a mobile counter-drone air defense vehicle combining its CMI interceptor with ASRAAM at Farnborough. Energy Resilience: Ukraine’s Energy Ministry says about 1.8 GW of distributed gas-fired generation is installed, with new gas cogeneration commissioned since March 2026. Cybersecurity: Ukraine’s CERT-UA says Russia’s Sandworm used fake CAPTCHA prompts to trick users into infecting devices, hiding command servers in the Ethereum blockchain. Defense Tech Ecosystem: Ukraine’s Diia.AI expands voice access to government services, while the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance adds new partners to scale unmanned tech.

Ukrainian Defence Tech Funding: Resist.UA launched Resist 2.0, targeting up to €50M to scale battlefield-proven Ukrainian and dual-use tech, with a founder-and-team focus rather than just products. Drone Strike Capability: Ukraine’s DoD codified Firefly guided drone bombs for general use and mass production, aiming for rapid rollout of a low-cost add-on kit for bomber drones. Counter–Jet Shahed Air Defense: SkyFall unveiled the P1-SUN Jetkiller interceptor at Farnborough, built to catch faster jet-powered Shaheds; serial production is planned for August. Industrial Scaling & Licensing: PBS GROUP will license-produce jet engines in Ukraine via Airlogix, and also plans drone production with PBS engines in the Czech Republic. Patriot Cost Pressure: Lockheed announced a cheaper PAC-3 ACE Patriot interceptor, designed to bridge the gap between low-cost drone interceptors and full PAC-3 MSE. Political Tech Shock: Ukraine’s defence shake-up and Mykhailo Fedorov’s ouster triggered major protests, with soldiers and tech reform advocates arguing the drone/robot modernization agenda is at stake. Accountability: NABU/SAPO notified suspects over a NGU logistics scheme involving over UAH 150M, including inflated real-estate valuations.

Ukrainian Drone War: Ukraine launched 400+ drones toward Moscow, with Moscow reporting most downed and 85 intercepted near the city, as Zelenskyy tries to steady a domestic political crisis after the defense minister’s dismissal. Command-to-Industry Loop: Zelenskyy convened Supreme Commander staff talks with corps commanders and domestic weapons makers to speed procurement, fix defects found in combat, and set a permanent feedback channel between units and defense enterprises. Guided Munition Push: Ukraine’s Firefly guided drone munitions are reported ready for mass production, designed for drops from up to 800 meters with autonomous trajectory correction and resistance to electronic warfare. Air Defense Economics: Lockheed unveiled the lower-cost PAC-3 Adapted Capability Effector (ACE) for Patriot, aiming to cut interceptor cost to help close the gap as Ukraine’s PAC-3 supply remains tight. Old Guns, New Tactics: Ukrainian Territorial Defense crews used 70-year-old Bofors L70 anti-aircraft guns to intercept new Russian missiles, showing how upgraded sights and manual skills still matter. EU Drone Industrialization: The EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance added new members to scale unmanned systems and counter-drone tech, pushing production beyond prototypes.

EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance: The European Commission named Quantum Systems a founding member, aiming to turn Ukraine’s battlefield drone lessons into next-gen defense tech for Europe. Ukrainian Security Ops: The SBU says its Alpha unit hit an FSB coordination center in occupied Kherson with 13 drones, targeting a site with up to ~100 personnel and 70+ vehicles. Ukraine-Russia Drone War: Kyiv launched 400+ drones toward Moscow as Zelenskyy tries to steady a domestic crisis after the Fedorov defense shake-up. Space & Comms: Russia’s Bureau 1440 launched a second batch of Rassvet satellites for a Starlink rival, moving from testing toward early constellation deployment. Defense Tech Watch: Anduril and Archer unveiled the Thunder autonomous armed tiltrotor “loyal wingman” concept at Farnborough, explicitly drawing on Ukraine-era lessons. Space Costs: A new study says launch costs per kg to orbit have fallen 96% since 1960, but warns debris and market concentration could slow further gains. Geopolitics: Putin thanked North Korea for support against Ukraine during talks with its foreign minister, as military cooperation deepens.

Defense shake-up & protests: Ukrainians kept rallying for a fourth straight evening in Kyiv, demanding Mykhailo Fedorov’s return, Syrskyi’s dismissal, and broader military leadership changes—chants pushed “drones, not blood” and faster modernization. Air and missile pressure: Russia carried out one of its biggest ballistic strikes, hitting Kyiv Oblast with dozens of missiles and a large drone wave; Ukraine reported major drone and missile interceptions amid reports of deaths and injuries. War at sea: Kyiv says it struck Russia’s “shadow fleet” with sustained drone operations, targeting scores of vessels tied to sanctioned oil routes, while Ukraine also blamed Russia for a deadly strike on a Turkish-flagged cargo ship near Odesa. Industrial policy: Ukraine accelerated wartime privatization, approving terms for selling the Odesa Port Plant and moving toward auctions for strategic assets, with investment conditions tied to modernization and energy efficiency. Air defense cooperation: Romania said it won’t produce PAC-3 interceptors for Patriot for Ukraine, but will support air-defense strengthening via coalition efforts. Tech & security: Researchers flagged a U.S. government app issue—federal workers were forced to install a White House app containing code from Elfsight, tied to a Russian-founded vendor.

Drone Warfare & Countermeasures: Israel Aerospace Industries unveiled its HYPNOSIS C-UAS, designed to disrupt satellite navigation for drones and other GNSS-dependent threats via a soft-kill layer. Deep-Strike Escalation: Russia’s FSB says it stopped a Ukrainian AI-drone attack on the Rostov-Centralny airfield, seizing 13 drones allegedly carrying TNT-equivalent explosives. Battlefield Tech Trend: China showcased airburst-capable rocket artillery effects from its PHL-191 system, signaling a push toward suppressing dispersed targets. Ukrainian Defense Politics: Kyiv’s protests over the defense shake-up intensified, with crowds now targeting Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi after Mykhailo Fedorov’s dismissal. EU Tech Industrial Push: The EU and Ukraine moved to scale drone production through a new “drone deal,” pairing industry with battlefield needs and funding. Hard Security Reality: Russia hit Kyiv with one of its biggest ballistic missile barrages, killing at least one and wounding 16, damaging multiple districts.

Ukraine Tech & Drones: Ukraine’s deep-strike push keeps getting more autonomous: Russia’s FSB says it stopped 13 AI-equipped Ukrainian drones bound for the Rostov-Centralny airfield, each carrying an explosive payload and GPS-corrupting targeting meant to beat countermeasures. Counter-UAS Tech: Israel Aerospace Industries unveiled HYPNOSIS, a navigation-warfare system that defeats satellite-guided drones by corrupting GPS signals—aiming to make defense far cheaper than intercepting. Battlefield Impact: The CIA chief claims Russian recruits’ battlefield lifespan is now about 20–30 minutes, blaming Ukraine’s low-cost AI drone tactics. Defense Shake-Up: Zelensky’s dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov sparked major protests and a leadership scramble; Serhiy “Flash” Beskrestnov was named a defense-tech adviser while an interim defense minister took over. EU Industrial Push: The EU-Ukraine drone deal is accelerating unmanned production with grants and access for defense firms. Space Comms: Ukraine’s Stetman is preparing a 360-satellite LEO constellation with SpaceX launches starting in 2027, despite the founder’s death. Ukraine Strikes in Russia: Ukrainian drones hit logistics sites near Moscow, including Wildberries warehouses, killing and injuring workers.

Ukrainian Deep-Strike Tech: Russia’s FSB says it stopped 13 AI-equipped Ukrainian drones carrying improvised explosives meant for the Rostov-Centralny airfield, with a recruited civilian reportedly turning himself in. Drone-Warfare Shift: “Flash” Beskrestnov says Russian Shahed tactics are moving from mass attacks to smaller, more manual, harder-to-intercept strikes. Defense Tech Leadership Shake-Up: Zelenskyy’s dismissal of drone-focused Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov sparked major protests and renewed debate over Ukraine’s war strategy; Syrskyi’s “hold out and mobilize” approach is cited as clashing with Fedorov’s push to redirect more procurement toward UAVs. Cyber/Procurement Pressure: Reports say Russia is changing how it sustains the war, while Ukraine’s tech push continues amid political turbulence. EU Drone Industry Push: The EU-Ukraine drone partnership and drone production deals keep expanding, aiming to scale unmanned systems faster. Regional Science Links: Luhansk universities sign cooperation with Poland’s Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, launching LUkraNet for research and mobility. Security Disruption at Home: Ukrainian law enforcement reports arrests and seizures of frontline weapons and explosives tied to black-market trafficking.

AI-Enabled Drone Attack Foiled: Russia’s FSB says it stopped 13 Ukrainian AI-equipped drones carrying TNT-equivalent explosives aimed at the Rostov-Centralny airfield, with a recruited courier turning himself in. Security & Counter-Intel: Ukraine’s SSU detained a Donetsk heat-network engineer accused of coordinating Russian missile, bomb, and drone strikes on Sloviansk, allegedly passing target coordinates via multiple phones. Defense Tech Leadership Shake-Up: Zelenskyy appointed SBU head Yevhenii Khmara as acting defence minister after Mykhailo Fedorov’s dismissal sparked nationwide protests; Zelenskyy also named “Flash” Serhii Beskrestnov as personal advisor on defence technologies. Ukrainian Drone Interception: The MoD approved the Cyclop drone interceptor after it tracked and destroyed 100+ targets, including its first Shahed interception over Kursk. Missile Supply Chain Pressure: A sanctions-policy commissioner says Russia’s Iskander-M and Oreshnik used foreign and Belarusian components, underscoring the need to break supply chains. Cyber Threat: Finland’s SUPO warned of Russian cyberespionage targeting security measures via poorly secured corporate network gear. Protest Fallout: Thousands rallied in Kyiv for a second day over the defence reshuffle, with anger focused on the war’s tech modernization direction.

FSB Foils AI Drone Terror Plot: Russia says it stopped 13 Ukrainian AI-equipped drones carrying TNT-equivalent explosives aimed at the Rostov-Centralny military airfield, after a recruited courier turned himself in. EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance: The European Commission launched the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance in Kyiv to scale drone and counter-drone tech, linking EU programs with Ukrainian battlefield needs. Ukraine’s Wartime Tech Shake-Up: Zelensky’s dismissal of defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov sparked nationwide protests and renewed questions about how Ukraine’s drone-first innovation push will be managed. Ukraine’s New PM, Winter Ahead: Serhii Koretskyi took office as prime minister amid energy-system strain and street unrest, with officials warning of a hard winter. Counter-Drone Hardware Race: Latvia is boosting protection of energy infrastructure and pushing NATO for counter-drone integration, while the US Army and Auriga Space plan electromagnetic weapons research against drone swarms. Defense Deals Abroad: The US approved $80.1M Switchblade 300 Block 20 drone munitions for Greece; the UK will replace Estonia’s armored battlegroup with a Mobile Anti-Armour Force. Aerospace & Drones for Allies: Japan began EC-2 electronic warfare flight tests, and Taiwan reported it supplied millions of battery cells to Ukrainian UAVs.

Defense Tech & Drones: Ukraine’s deep-strike drone push is getting sharper: Russia’s FSB says it stopped 13 AI-equipped Ukrainian drones carrying TNT-equivalent explosives aimed at the Rostov-Centralny airfield. Military Leadership Shake-Up: Zelenskyy’s dismissal of tech-savvy Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov triggered nationwide protests and a public blame game with Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi; acting defense leadership goes to SBU head Yevhenii Khmara. Industrial Scale-Up: NATO’s deputy commander says Ukraine plans to produce 5M drones in 2026, forcing allies to rethink mass output. EU-Ukraine Drone Deal: The EU and Ukraine sealed a drone deal to scale joint production and expand into anti-ballistic missiles by 2028. Battlefield Tech Reality Check: Ukraine’s Brave1 says it’s funding combat humanoid robots, but field-tested wheeled/tracked bots are far more proven than bipedal units. Energy & Security: Russia’s Rosatom claims a Ukrainian drone killed the chief engineer at Zaporizhzhia NPP; IAEA condemned the reported killing. War’s Human Cost: Ukraine recovered 501 fallen soldiers claimed by Russia, with forensic ID work underway.

EU-Ukraine Drone Deal: EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed a new defense industrial partnership in Kyiv to scale joint drone and counter-drone production, with €1B earmarked for drones and a broader push toward drones, missiles, and aircraft. Defense Tech Shockwave: Ukraine’s tech-savvy Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov was dismissed in a wartime reshuffle, triggering nationwide protests and raising questions about whether drone-driven reforms will keep moving. Energy Leadership Pivot: Parliament approved Naftogaz chief Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister, signaling a focus on winter resilience and energy security as the war grinds on. Patriot Production Push: Zelenskyy says Ukraine is working toward domestic Patriot missile production capability by end-2026, while prototypes for the EU “FREYJA” anti-ballistic project await testing. Nuclear Safety Alarm: A Ukrainian drone attack killed the chief engineer at Zaporizhzhia, a staffing-critical blow at Europe’s largest nuclear plant. Cyber Enforcement: The US Treasury sanctioned a VPN provider allegedly used to support ransomware attacks, underscoring the growing tech-and-security front. Deep-Strike Escalation: Russia’s FSB claims it stopped 13 AI-equipped Ukrainian drones targeting a Rostov airfield, highlighting autonomous targeting as a key battlefield trend.

EU-Ukraine Drone Deal: In Kyiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a new EU–Ukraine Defense Industrial Partnership to scale joint drone and anti-drone production, with joint drone output targeted by end-2026 and anti-ballistic missile production by 2028, plus €1B more for drone procurement under the wider €90B support package. Defense Tech Funding Access: Ukraine’s defense firms gained pathways into EU programs via agreements opening access to the European Defence Fund and EDIP, including a €300M grant package (with R&D, production capacity expansion, and innovation support), pending Verkhovna Rada ratification. Nuclear Safety Under Fire: Russia and Rosatom said a Ukrainian drone killed the chief engineer of the Zaporizhzhia NPP and the driver; the IAEA called the reported attack “unacceptable” and urged an end to strikes near nuclear sites. Deep-Strike Escalation: Russia’s FSB claimed it stopped 13 AI-equipped Ukrainian drones carrying explosives aimed at the Rostov-Centralny airfield, highlighting how autonomous targeting is being used to bypass countermeasures. War Economy Pressure: Ukrainian drone forces hit Russian “shadow fleet” tankers in the Sea of Azov to disrupt fuel deliveries to Crimea, as Russia weighs rerouting cargo amid the attacks. Space & Science: A Hillsborough, New Jersey meteorite study reports “salty” fluids in fragments that may inform how water and life-building chemistry formed in early solar system bodies.