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Satellite imagery provider Maxar Technologies has limited Ukraine's access to its satellite imagery. Users of the commercial service have reported this. Maxar said the restriction was made "in response to an administrative request." The disconnection happened because the US government banned sharing intelligence data with Ukraine. President Donald Trump's administration prohibited American companies from supplying satellite data to Ukraine through the State Department, including both government and private users. Disturbingly, the Russians have long used MAXAR imagery for their targeting of Ukraine, and possibly have not had their access restricted any further. They have been acquiring their images through third parties and proxies, obscuring who the end user of the imagery is. This is perhaps an approach Ukraine will have to copy.
The US is ending support for Ukrainian F-16 electronic countermeasures equipment. An analyst suggests Ukraine should focus on French Mirage 2000 fighters as an alternative, as France promised to install new countermeasures systems on Mirage 2000s before delivery to Ukraine.
Republican Senators have asked Trump to restore military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine. They said that a prolonged pause could weaken Ukraine's combat capabilities and undermine its position in negotiations with Russia. They are pushing for immediate resumption of intelligence sharing. Senator Tom Tillis suggested the pause might be a negotiation tactic. Senate Republican Leader John Thune described the halt as temporary and expressed hope for a peace deal that respects Ukraine's sovereignty.
According to sources cited by CNN, the US is still sharing some intelligence with Ukraine to support its defense, but not for attacks on Russian troops. This US aims to avoid being seen as directly aiding strikes on Russia. Trump has now made statements saying the ban on intelligence sharing may end soon.
Trump called into question US defense commitments to NATO and Japan during a White House press conference. Trump criticized the US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, saying "We have to protect them, but they don't have to protect us." He threatened not to defend NATO countries that don't meet spending targets, calling for 5% of GDP. The Chinese Embassy in Washington stated China was ready for "any type" of war with the US over increased trade tariffs.
Trump stated "Ukraine may not survive anyway" regarding his decision to halt aid during a Fox News interview. He claimed he was "tougher on Russia than anyone" despite NBC News reporting that he wants Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia and possibly for Zelenskyy to "step aside." Trump reportedly wants more than just a mineral resources deal to restore US aid.
Ukraine's ambassador to the UK and former commander-in-chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi has been more outspoken, claiming "the United States is destroying the world order" during a speech at Chatham House in London.
France launched the CSO-3 spy satellite in March 2025. The satellite reached an altitude of 800 kilometers. CSO satellites are developed by Thales. European Space Agency Director Tony Tolker-Nielsen called this a significant step toward European space autonomy. The images from CSO-3 will be accessible to French, German, and Belgian armed forces. Since France has previously offered to provide intelligence support to Ukraine, CSO-3 could potentially assist Ukrainian forces to help replace the intelligence sharing now being withheld from Ukraine by the US. A Ukrainian An-124 aircraft delivered the French military satellite CSO-3 to the launch site in Guiana. The EU is discussing alternatives to Starlink with four European satellite providers. Poland currently provides $50 million annually for Starlink for Ukraine.
Ukrainian Air Force Mirage 2000-5F jets were used to help repel a Russian missile and drone strike for the first time. F-16 aircraft also helped defend against the attack. On March 7, 2025, Russia launched a drone and missile strike targeting Ukraine's critical infrastructure, especially gas production facilities. The Russians used 261 aerial assets including 67 missiles and 194 drones. Ukrainian forces destroyed 134 air targets, including 25 Kh-101/Kh-55 cruise missiles, 8 Kalibr cruise missiles, 1 Kh-59/69 missile, and 100 Shahed drones. Up to ten enemy missiles missed their targets, and 86 decoy drones were neutralized or were “lost.”
Russia is intensifying its attacks on Ukraine's gas infrastructure. On March 7, Russia launched a large drone and missile strike using Tu-95MS bombers, Kalibr missiles, ballistic missiles, and 194 drones. The Ukrainian Air Force intercepted 34 out of 67 missiles and destroyed or disrupted 186 drones. Explosions damaged multiple energy facilities including gas production sites operated by Naftogaz and DTEK. Russia has launched over 1,000 strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. In 2024, Ukraine reportedly lost 9 GW of electricity generation capacity, and in early 2025, gas production dropped by 40%. Naftogaz facilities have been targeted 17 times since the start of the war. Former Naftogaz CEO Andrii Koboliev believes Russia is deliberately targeting gas production to make gas transit an issue in peace talks. Energy expert Hennadii Riabtsev believes the attacks are random and disorganized. Ukraine will need to import at least 5 billion cubic meters of gas at an estimated cost of €2 billion to ensure the country has sufficient supplies next winter. Ukraine will have to begin stockpiling gas in May to guarantee they will have enough to last winter.
Russian forces hit an energy facility in Odesa Oblast on March 7, the seventh strike on the region's energy system in three weeks. DTEK reported that Russia had targeted Odesa's energy infrastructure four nights in a row. That night, Russia launched 67 missiles and 194 drones. Damage was reported in Kharkiv, Ternopil, Chernihiv, Odesa, and Poltava oblasts.
The death toll from a Russian missile strike on a hotel in Kryvyi Rih on March 5 has risen to six after a 53-year-old man died from his injuries. The attack damaged multiple buildings and injured 31 people. President Zelenskyy noted the hotel had just taken in humanitarian volunteers from Ukraine, the US, and the UK before the strike.
Russia attacked Ukraine with 119 Shaheds and various decoy drones on March 9. Ukrainian air defenses destroyed 73 drones across multiple regions. Damage was reported in six oblasts, with critical infrastructure targeted in Zaporizhzhya, disrupting gas and heat supplies.
The Kazan Aircraft Production Association (KAPO) in Russia produced only one new Tu-214 airliner by the end of 2024, they have planned to produce 10. The aircraft has the tail number RA-64535 and was manufactured for the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade. It has completed its first flight and has been sent to Belarus for painting. The previous Tu-214 was produced in 2021 for the Federal Security Service. The production plan created in April 2023 contracted KAPO to manufacture three Tu-214s in 2023 and seven in 2024, with a goal of 70 aircraft by 2030. During 2022-2023, KAPO assembled three Tu-160M bombers using Soviet-era airframes, but so far, these aircraft have not been delivered to the Russian Defense Ministry, potentially revealing a lack of parts or problems with quality control or testing.
Ukraine is sending a team of officials to Saudi Arabia for talks with a US delegation. The team includes Andrii Yermak, head of the Presidential Office; Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine's foreign minister; First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko; and Pavlo Palisa, Yermak's deputy. The meeting will focus on finalizing a minerals agreement and repairing relations with America. On March 11, the Ukrainian delegation will meet in Jeddah with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, US Special Representative for Middle East Affairs Steven Witkoff, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Russian representatives will not be present. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said that the discussions may include negotiating a pause on air and naval strikes. President Zelenskyy announced he will visit Saudi Arabia on March 10 but will not participate in the negotiations with the US delegation.
Sweden is allocating $2.2 million to support Ukrainian women through UN-Women.
The Swedish Embassy:
“On March 8, we pay tribute to the Ukrainian women who bravely defend their country, and all of Europe, as military and humanitarian workers, entrepreneurs, and political leaders.”
According to Swedish media, the US plans to stop participating in planning future NATO military exercises in Europe, though exercises already planned for 2025 will proceed. This may be related to US plans to redirect military resources toward the Indo-Pacific region. Reports suggest President Trump is considering withdrawing troops from Germany and redeploying them to Hungary.
Czech manufacturer of jet engines, PBS Group, is investing €28 million in technology and development, building a new plant in Georgia, USA, and expanding its site in Velka Biteš. They developed the AI-PBS-350 engine in partnership with Ukraine, with mass production expected to begin sometime in early 2025. When asked about exporting the engines to other customers, PBS said that Ukraine's needs are a priority. The AI-PBS-350 engine has 3,400 N maximum thrust, a weight of 51 kg, and a 5.0 kW power output.
Poland plans to withdraw from treaties banning anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions. Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated Poland must use all available means to guarantee its security. Tusk told Poland's parliament his government is crafting a military training model for all adult men and that Poland would be safer if it had its own nuclear arsenal.
Ukraine received £752 million through the G7 ERA initiative from the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the funds from frozen Russian assets will enhance Ukraine's defense capabilities. The G7 initiative aims to provide Ukraine with $50 billion through loans backed by frozen Russian assets. EU, G7 countries, and Australia have frozen approximately $280 billion in Russian assets.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov signed a memorandum of understanding with German defense company Diehl Defence, the manufacturer of the IRIS-T air defense system. The agreement will triple the supply of IRIS-T air defense systems and missiles to Ukraine. Umerov said that the agreement paves the way for large-scale industrial projects. In September 2024, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reported that Germany had ordered a total of 17 IRIS-T systems for Ukraine; 8 medium-range IRIS-T SLM systems and 9 short-range IRIS-T SLS systems.
Ukrainian company Adaptis has learned how to repair Starlink terminals for the Ukrainian military. Adaptis engineers repair components including mainboards, GPS modules, power systems, and antennas.
Ukrainian naval drone carriers delivered FPV strike drones to hit a Russian Osa-AKM and a Strela-10 air defense systems. Ukrainian Navy and Security Service of Ukraine coordinated the strike.
Ukraine's GUR disabled a locomotive in Voronezh, Russia on March 6. The locomotive transported weapons from Russian defense companies to the occupied Ukrainian territories.
Ukraine's SBU arrested a State Space Agency official suspected of treason. The official, possibly Leonid Kastorskyi, collected data on Ukrainian military-industrial sites. FSB recruited him through his wife in Rostov-on-Don. He gathered information on navigation system manufacturers, military warehouses, and weapons production. The SBU tracked him since his recruitment and used him to feed disinformation to Moscow.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto claimed on March 7 that Poland and the EU are blocking peace talks initiated by Trump. Szijjarto said Brussels and Poland want to continue the war while Hungary and US want peace. An EU summit communique backed by 26 members but vetoed by Hungary pledged support for Ukraine's sovereignty.
On the night of March 9, 2025, Ukrainian drones attacked the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant and the Ryazan Oil Refinery. The Novolipetsk plant, which produces metal products for military equipment, was hit. Lipetsk Region Governor Igor Artamonov confirmed the attack but did not say whether or not operations at the plant were affected.
The Ryazan Oil Refinery was also attacked by drones, with local residents reporting explosions and abnormal temperature increases. Fires at the refinery were detected by the NASA FIRMS fire monitoring satellites, but authorities stated no major damage to civilian or industrial infrastructure. This was the fourth attack on a Russian oil refinery in 2025.
Drones struck Konservsushprod in Starodub, Bryansk region on March 7, 2025. The plant produces Russian army rations.
On the night of March 9, 2025, Ukrainian drones attacked the Kirishinefteorgsintez (KINEF) oil refinery in Russia, but the attack was repelled, according to Leningrad Region Governor Alexander Drozdenko. Drozdenko claimed that Russian air defenses shot down two drones, with falling debris damaging one of the refinery's tanks. The plant produces gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, jet fuel and various petrochemicals and has an annual refining capacity of 20.1 million tons of oil.
The first recruits from Ukraine's new Contract 18-24 program have taken an oath in the 10th Edelweiss Mountain Assault Brigade. The program recruits Ukrainians aged 18-24 for a one-year contract with at least six months in combat. Participants receive a $26,000 bonus, monthly salaries up to $3,200, and benefits like free medical care, education, and travel opportunities. Recruits serve in various roles, including rifleman, sniper, and scout, and are exempt from mobilization for 12 months after their service.
Ukraine's government approved the transfer of state-owned weapons designs to private manufacturers to expand production capacity. The defense industry grew from $1 billion in 2022 to $35 billion in 2025. Public procurement reached $9 billion in 2024.
Norway is allocating €7.8 billion in 2025 to improve Ukraine’s maritime and air defenses, support military training, and invest in Ukraine’s defense industry. This funding is part of the Nordic-Baltic Brigade initiative, which includes Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. The brigade, which began as the "Northern Brigade" in 2024, will focus on air defense, ammunition supply, and training. Norway will lead the training efforts, and the brigade will have 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers, including various support units.
France is creating a €195 million military aid package funded by frozen Russian assets, which includes AMX-10RC vehicles, VAB carriers, artillery shells, and precision bombs.
Ukrainian General Staff reports the situation in Sudzha is under control, denying a large-scale Russian breakthrough. They say Russian forces are operating in small groups near Novenke and Zhuravka.
Quote of the Day:
“You must understand there is more than one hedgehog on the path to the top of the mountain.”
-Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings