What's corroborated

AI could underpin a networked battlefield with smart weapons operating in coordination within three to five years.

The future belongs to autonomous systems, and AI makes it possible to automate parts of the kill chain.

Developers are testing tools for coordinated drone swarms to boost efficiency and ease burden on human operators.

Ukraine's domestic arms sector includes more than 2,000 manufacturers and military technology firms.

Many newer systems are designed to shift toward autonomous functionality to maintain target focus under hostile jamming.

Rapid military adoption of artificial intelligence is becoming essential to Ukraine's survival.

Joining the coalition does not entail significant additional costs.

Finland will join the international drone coalition during this spring.

The coalition includes more than 20 countries.

Last year's guest of honor was Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Authorities have not confirmed any special arrangements for Moscow's Victory Day parade this year.

The general rehearsal for the parade is scheduled for May 7.

Russia has already announced that the Victory Day parade in Arkhangelsk is cancelled, and the parade in Murmansk is under consideration for cancellation.

Now the security situation has changed significantly because Ukraine has succeeded in eroding Russia's air defense and developing new long-range weapons.

In previous years, the parade was somewhat reduced due to the Ukraine war, partly because of equipment shortages and partly security reasons.

Last year's festivities were exceptionally large for the 80th anniversary of victory.

Russia celebrates Victory Day over Nazi Germany on May 9 every year.

Russia has imposed restrictions on the internet and Telegram, citing security reasons, believed to be related to Ukraine's repeated long-range drone strikes.

According to the Moscow Times, Telegram channels have reported that the aerial part of the parade has been cancelled this year, and the well-informed military channel Fighterbomber said rehearsals were cancelled in early April and air force units were ordered back to bases.

The propaganda machine claims that the reduced parade was planned from the beginning and has nothing to do with drones.

Prokopenko hinted that the reason for the reduction is Ukraine's repeated strikes deep into Russia.

Russian journalist Aleksandra Prokopenko wrote on X, citing sources, that the parade will be drastically reduced: only marching soldiers, no military vehicles, only a few hundred guests, and the ceremony will last under an hour.

Normally, tanks and missile launchers would already be rolling in Moscow's streets for parade rehearsals, but none have been announced.

The Moscow Times suspects that the entire vehicle section of the parade may be cancelled on May 9.

Ukrainian audiences have responded positively to the film, with Mariia Hlazunova of the Dovzhenko Centre saying: 'It's interesting to see...'

After filming, Kapustin joined the real-life 3rd Assault Brigade, part of Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps, and now works as a drone operator.

Kapustin said the film reflects the evolving nature of modern warfare, adding: 'It's a race for technological superiority.'

Actor Denis Kapustin described how cast members sometimes slept in bomb shelters between scenes, adding: 'The movie is totally meta and postmodern.'

US journalist Audrey MacAlpine, who appears as herself, said: 'There were air raid alerts. We had to hide. It was a war within a war.'

During filming, production was frequently interrupted by air raid alerts and cast members sometimes slept in bomb shelters.

The film is set in 2024, during a period when Washington and Kyiv are portrayed as allies, with Donald Trump notably absent from the storyline.

The film features appearances from well-known Ukrainian figures, including former military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov.

The production involved support from Ukraine's intelligence agencies, including the Security Service of Ukraine and the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, which provided military equipment such as Humvee and MaxxPro vehicles and a Black Hawk helicopter.

The film incorporates fictional elements, including a kidnapped 12-year-old girl and scenes set in the White House situation room and occupied eastern Ukraine.

Levytskyi first turned the story into a documentary titled 'Follow Me' before expanding it into a full-length feature filmed last year in the Kyiv region.

Director Liubomyr Levytskyi said the story stood out after seeing footage of the rescue operation.

The sound of the drones is still characteristic and cannot be mistaken for anything else.

The upgraded drones fly higher and faster than before.

Independent Russian news site IStories reported in March that Russia aims to recruit nearly 80,000 soldiers for its unmanned systems units by the end of 2026.

Ukrainian comedian Yevhen Volnov published a video last Friday claiming he infiltrated a closed meeting of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The incident was reported by several Ukrainian media, The Telegraph, and independent Russian news site Meduza.

The man's claim that he serves in the Ukrainian armed forces could not be verified.

Meduza assessed that the lecture hall in the video is likely at the Kuban State Agricultural University in Krasnodar, Russia, but the exact location and time cannot be confirmed.

The video call was suddenly cut off after university staff appeared to realize the situation.

One Yellow Ribbon activist was sentenced to over 13 years in prison.

Yellow Ribbon spokesperson Yaroslav Bozhko stated publicly in 2022-2023 that at least 30 activists were arrested and some killed.

Canadian funding ended in 2024; UK funding stopped in 2025 due to safety concerns and uncertainty about fund use.

The British journalist received 800 pounds per day in consultant fees.

Two key individuals are identified: a British journalist employed as project manager and a Ukrainian female researcher acting as local contact.

Most of the funds went to high consultant fees, not to activists.