Defense of Ukraine

Official page of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine 🇺🇦

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

270 Ukrainians have returned home from Russian captivity. 🇺🇦

Among them are National Guard warriors, including Azov fighters, as well as border guards, Territorial Defense, Navy, Ground Forces, Air Assault Forces, and State Special Transport Service personnel. Nine civilians have also returned.

Most had been held since 2022, and many defended Mariupol. Others fought in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, and Chernihiv directions, and defended the Chornobyl NPP.

Evgeniy Khmara: “Behind every release are the efforts of many people, coordination and daily work that does not stop for a single day.”

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

🇺🇦🤝🇸🇪 Minister of Defence Evgeniy Khmara spoke with Swedish Defence Minister @PlJonson about urgently strengthening Ukraine’s air defense following the latest Russian strike.

The ministers discussed Patriot interceptors, faster IRIS-T missile deliveries, and Swedish MANPADS. Preparations to receive Gripen fighters are proceeding in line with the crew training plan.

Thank you, Sweden, for your strong and consistent support!

Read more:
https://t.co/28io34AJb0

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

The Russians tried to slip behind our lines near Kupiansk through gas pipelines.

We were watching.

Operation Veles turned their way in into a trap: over 100 occupiers eliminated, 30+ captured.

There’s no hiding from us on our soil, even underground.

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

🇺🇦🤝🇩🇰 Thank you, Denmark!

Denmark has delivered more than 50,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition to Ukraine on an expedited basis for the onboard cannons of F-16 fighter jets. Ukrainian pilots are already using them to intercept jet-powered attack drones.

“We are grateful to Denmark for its quick and effective response to our request for additional ammunition. This speed matters directly for strengthening Ukraine’s air defence and protecting people from Russian air attacks,” Minister of Defence Evgeniy Khmara said.

Aviation, and the F-16 in particular, is currently one of the most effective means of countering jet-powered Shaheds. Destroying them effectively requires sufficient stocks of ammunition.
@JeppeBruus @Forsvarsmin

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

«Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.»
William James

The combat losses of the enemy from February 24, 2022 to October 23, 2026.

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

Minus one Geran-4. 💥

The sky shift continues for DeNfіX and his MiG-29, one target at a time.

📹: Air Command “West”

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

Finding the enemy for a precise strike.

Our warriors from @RubizhBrigade fly reconnaissance missions with Leleka drones, Ukrainian-made and named after the stork.

From high above the front, they spot Russian forces, track every movement, and adjust fire until it lands right on target.

The enemy rarely sees it coming, the Leleka always sees them first. 🫡

📹: @ng_ukraine

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

The drone war has gone to sea.

A Ukrainian naval drone, the Sargan 3000 unmanned surface vessel, launched a Sting interceptor and destroyed a Russian Shahed.

Our warriors keep adapting to every new threat Russia throws at Ukraine, and every new tool serves one goal: protecting civilians and critical infrastructure.

📹: @UA_NAVY

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

For the first time, Ukraine can procure weapons and military equipment through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency.

Minister of Defence Evgeniy Khmara has signed the agreement bringing Ukraine into a dedicated partnership with the Agency.

Ukraine’s needs can now be combined with other countries’ orders for better prices, met through existing NSPA contracts or new tenders, and Ukrainian manufacturers can bid alongside foreign firms on equal terms.

@NSPA_NATO @NATOinUkraine

Read more:
https://t.co/X6VeEyYfT5

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

Overnight, Russia fired 21 ballistic missiles at Kyiv in three waves, hitting homes, energy and transport infrastructure, businesses, and a monastery.

Two people were killed and 34 injured across 12 regions, including five children.

Ukraine needs stronger air defense, faster missile deliveries, and the ability to destroy launchers.

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

Three waves of ballistic missiles have been launched at Kyiv by Russian “humanitarians” since yesterday evening. They used 21 missiles. Unfortunately, numerous sites across the city have been hit and damaged: ordinary residential buildings, energy facilities, infrastructure at one of the railway stations and the metro, shopping malls, and businesses. Even a monastery is among the damaged sites. Our emergency services are working at all the affected locations. Twelve of our regions came under Russian attack overnight. In Kyiv and across the regions, 34 people were injured, including five children. As of now, two people have been confirmed killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones.

Almost immediately after another round of talks, Russia launched a pointed attack. This means there has been no real change in its attitude toward everything that is happening. It is important to keep trying to find the right solutions to end this war. But when Russia responds to negotiations with ballistic missiles, real pressure on Russia is needed to bring about different steps – steps toward ending the killing. Stronger air defenses and the rapid delivery of missiles, the ability to destroy ballistic missile launchers, sanctions over the war – all of this must be in place. I am grateful to everyone who sees the situation for what it is and acknowledges the reality. The aggressor deserves to be treated accordingly. Ukraine deserves support. People's lives deserve protection. Thank you to everyone who stands with Ukraine!

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

Russian fixed-wing drones are having a rough time over this sector.

The brigade’s interceptor crews hunt them down so fewer enemy eyes watch our guns, and the warriors and equipment below can work in greater safety. Each takedown comes from a tight team that has learned to adapt fast to how this war is fought in the air.

📹: 26th Artillery Brigade

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

«Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected. Sustainability is about survival. The goal of resilience is to thrive.»
Jamais Cascio

The combat losses of the enemy from February 24, 2022 to October 22, 2026.

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

Before the full-scale invasion, Denys built websites. He walked into a recruitment center, retrained in air defense, and spent two years commanding a Raven platoon that downed over 50 air targets, mostly Shaheds and recon drones.

Then came IRIS-T. On his crew’s first night in position, they shot down three cruise missiles and five attack drones. Today the unit’s tally exceeds 50.

📷: Air Command “West”

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

On the night of October 15, the Ukrainian Navy struck the Borisoglebsk airfield in Russia’s Voronezh region with Neptune missiles.

Four Su-34 frontline bombers were destroyed and two more hit.

These are the aircraft Russia uses to drop glide bombs on Ukrainian cities. They were armed and ready for new strikes.

To be continued. 💥

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

From legislative change to digitalised procurement: the United Kingdom is supporting Ukraine’s defence procurement reform through the SADR II programme.

Deputy Minister of Defence Mstyslav Banik discussed current issues in defence procurement reform at a meeting with the UK’s Chargé d’Affaires to Ukraine, Charlotte Surun, and representatives of the embassy and the programme.

In defence procurement, the cooperation covers several areas, with the main ones as follows:
1. Expert support for changes to legislation, procedures and processes.
2. Practical implementation of the recommendations of the Ukraine–NATO Strategic Review of Defence Procurement.
3. Digitalisation. British partners are supporting the creation of a secure electronic environment for defence procurement and the development of DOT-Chain Defence.

The programme also responds to specific requests, from consultations to supplying critically needed equipment.

SADR II’s aim goes beyond individual projects: to help the Ministry of Defence build resilient institutions and bring the governance of the defence sector closer to NATO and EU standards.

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

This is what a week of combat work looks like for the Buk-M1 crews of an anti-aircraft missile regiment. Over the past seven days, our air defense warriors destroyed 38 air targets.

Each one is a strike that never reached a city, a power plant, or someone’s home.

📹: Air Command “East”

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

Solutions from the US company Lockheed Martin, one of the largest manufacturers of defence technology, are already working to defend Ukraine. These include HIMARS, F-16s and PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems.

Minister of Defence of Ukraine Evgeniy Khmara and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyi met with a Lockheed Martin delegation led by Orlando Sanchez Jr., President of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.

The meeting focused on the importance of stable weapons deliveries and further cooperation. The parties also discussed the value of the F-16 for the Air Force. These aircraft are currently one of the key means of countering Russian jet-powered drones. It is also important for Ukraine to expand aircraft maintenance to more locations, including through localisation. These issues were raised during the talks.

“The F-16 is part of Ukrainian aviation. Ukraine is committed to a long-term partnership with Lockheed Martin. It is important to increase weapons deliveries and do everything we can to ensure that as many F-16s as possible remain in service and operate in Ukrainian skies,” Evgeniy Khmara stressed.

The talks also focused on scaling up supplies of PAC-3 interceptors to counter ballistic missiles.

We look forward to mutually beneficial cooperation with Lockheed Martin for years to come. Ukraine is ready to share its unique combat experience so that, together, we can make defence solutions more effective in modern warfare.

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

«Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.»
Albert Einstein

The combat losses of the enemy from February 24, 2022 to October 21, 2026.