The Ukrainian Air Force has carried out targeted strikes against Russian troop positions in southern Ukraine using French-supplied AASM 250 Hammer guided bombs. These high-precision munitions, developed in France, have become a key part of Ukraine’s airstrike tactics, enabling deep strikes behind enemy lines while significantly reducing civilian casualties. Each Hammer bomb costs around 120,000 euros (approximately £103,000), a price well justified by the damage they inflict on Kremlin forces and their logistics.
The strategic use of Western-supplied smart bombs signals Ukraine’s increasing reliance on advanced allied technology to counterbalance the Russian dictator’s numerical advantage on the battlefield. Ukrainian forces continue to demonstrate how modern, targeted firepower can reshape the war against the Kremlin’s brutal invasion.
Meanwhile, the elite 414th Unmanned Strike Aviation Brigade, better known as the “Birds of Madar,” has grown into one of Ukraine’s most effective and feared drone units. Under the command of volunteer leader Robert Madar Bravdi, the unit uses cheap commercially available drones modified for FPV kamikaze strikes. These drones are used for reconnaissance and surgical attacks against tanks, bunkers, supply trucks and Russian infantry — often without warning.
Russian troops, terrified by the near-invisible buzzing of drones overhead, are learning that there is no longer a safe place on the battlefield. Unlike traditional artillery, FPV drones arrive without warning and strike with pinpoint accuracy. The psychological toll is immense. The Birds of Madar record nearly every mission, turning each successful strike into digital proof of Ukraine’s precision and persistence — a message to Russian forces: “We see you and we are coming for you.”
In a bizarre twist that illustrates the scale of Russian losses, the Kremlin’s forces have now resorted to using motorcycles, ATVs and makeshift trailers for battlefield transport, evacuations and supply runs. Recent images and footage show Russian soldiers outfitting two-wheelers with carts made from whatever materials are available near the front. The lack of armoured vehicles, largely destroyed by Ukrainian forces, has forced the Russian army to conduct assaults on Ukrainian positions with motorcycle units exposed to fire and drone strikes.
On 8 May, fourteen Russian motorcyclists attempted a failed assault on Ukrainian paratroopers in the Pokrovsk sector. Ukrainian defenders quickly neutralised several attackers using FPV drones. These improvised attacks underline the Russian army’s desperation and depleted resources.
Despite Moscow’s announcement of a so-called truce from 8 to 11 May to mark its “Victory Day,” there has been no let-up in fighting. Ukrainian soldiers at the front report continued Russian artillery, drone and FPV attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the Kremlin’s declaration as political theatre. Military experts have echoed this, noting that a ceasefire must involve mutual negotiation and oversight — both absent in this case.
The Kremlin’s unilateral declaration follows its refusal to accept a United States-proposed 30-day ceasefire back in March, which Ukraine had agreed to. Ukrainian commanders on the ground describe Moscow’s claims as lies, pointing to ongoing airstrikes and drone bombardments even during the supposed truce.
Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Peter Reync, head of Dutch military intelligence, has warned that Russia could be ready for another war within a year of the current conflict ending. Moscow, with support from countries like China, is producing more artillery than needed for its current war effort, and stockpiling for future aggression. Reync noted that Russian artillery units are already being shifted to NATO’s borders, especially near the Baltic States and Finland.
