It seems a close Ukraine relationship with Taiwan could be very beneficial for both countries. I say this having no clue how close they are now…. But, Taiwan has the worlds greatest chip fab capacity; perfect for Ukraine’s drone needs, and they are likely in the hunt for a new, reliable, defense partner, since the “best replace by date” is rapidly approaching for the one they’ve been relying on for a few decades. Being an island, worried about naval blockade by China, a few hundred sea baby drones could some day be much more reliable than a U.S. carrier commanded by whimsical Mr “what’s in it for me”.
For the nerds. German hero’s? Ok, but Ludwig VAN Beethoven was the grandson of an immigrant from Mechelen, Belgium. Hence VAN and not VON. His grandfather moved to Bonn at the age of 21 and was employed as a bass singer at the court of the Archbishop of Cologne. Those immigrants again, you find them everywhere.
Hi Stefan, I just read your update, thanks again. About Engels, what happens if an airport is attacked like that and there are nuclear weapons at the base? Is there any risk?
No I don't think so. The Russians keep their nuclear devices at special sites very closely monitored by the US. if the Russians started moving the devices to a place with a launch system, like a bomber base, the US probably would react.
Thank you, Cornelius, for correcting a mistake I've made for most of my life. Much appreciated. May I assume that being a Van from Belgium means that he was Flemish-Belgian-German and not French-Belgian-German, or is that another mistake I'm making?
Yes, we find immigrants and grandsons/ daughters of immigrants everywhere in Europe. The ability to integrate them in new societies has been a strength to most of Europe.
I do not think that ‘defeat’ translates into Ukrainian at all! Thank you for making this commentary available, I found it enlightening and encouraging.
Bravo, Stefan. The 'peace process' is now a sideshow. It gives politicians and journalists something to do instead of addressing or reporting more immediate events.
No need to apologise. First of all, like many others I am very grateful for what you are doing. Second, what you wrote was correct. Ludwig van Beethoven was 100% German. Look at the national football teams of Germany, France, England, the Netherlands, Belgium, DNA from all over the world but the players represent their country. An immigrant grandfather is just a tiny detail.
Thanks Stefan - you sound so optimistic about drones but the same I think is also true about Russia - FPV drones are an area where it is so easy to catch up; a real mouse and cat game.
Wasn’t it the retreat from Sudzha because the Russian managed to establish air superiority of all kind of drones?
Greetings from Romania! A lot of great news! But I read in the NYTimes that the russians are making and sending to the front lines A LOT of FPV drones as well... I really hope my Ukrainians brothers will manufacture a hell of a lot more and kill the russian terrorists.
Thank you for the analysis. The drone war… very interesting development. And one must assume then that we will soon get anti-drone drones. Yes, Ukraine can produce them, and hopefully Europe will support if not drones at least the rest of the war. But I am still afraid Drumpf will fuck things up.
Thank you Stefan for this enlightening article, I so look forward to reading your reports its so nice to hear from a person who lives in Ukraine and reports from there not some so called experts from half way around the world and from people that think the war crimes committed by russia are propaganda, like the Consumer Cellular commercial says it nice to talk to real people
Thanks for the informative post. I think that at least the camera and the CPU of the drones will be procured from outside Ukraine (Taiwan?), since that country doesn't have an advanced semiconductor factory as far as I know.
What happened to the 100 billion rearmament program for Germany which was announced by the previous chancellor in 2022?
Don't know anything about that program, will have to check. You're right, the camera and CPU come from outside Ukraine, but, they are components that are impossible to stop with sanctions, there are too many sources on the international markets.
It seems a close Ukraine relationship with Taiwan could be very beneficial for both countries. I say this having no clue how close they are now…. But, Taiwan has the worlds greatest chip fab capacity; perfect for Ukraine’s drone needs, and they are likely in the hunt for a new, reliable, defense partner, since the “best replace by date” is rapidly approaching for the one they’ve been relying on for a few decades. Being an island, worried about naval blockade by China, a few hundred sea baby drones could some day be much more reliable than a U.S. carrier commanded by whimsical Mr “what’s in it for me”.
Canada might be interested too. They might need an awful lot of drones soon.
Few million, I’d think, rather than hundred. But that’s doable. I agree with your point.
For the nerds. German hero’s? Ok, but Ludwig VAN Beethoven was the grandson of an immigrant from Mechelen, Belgium. Hence VAN and not VON. His grandfather moved to Bonn at the age of 21 and was employed as a bass singer at the court of the Archbishop of Cologne. Those immigrants again, you find them everywhere.
I am corrected and I thank you for it. Apologies.
Hi Stefan, I just read your update, thanks again. About Engels, what happens if an airport is attacked like that and there are nuclear weapons at the base? Is there any risk?
No I don't think so. The Russians keep their nuclear devices at special sites very closely monitored by the US. if the Russians started moving the devices to a place with a launch system, like a bomber base, the US probably would react.
Thank you, Cornelius, for correcting a mistake I've made for most of my life. Much appreciated. May I assume that being a Van from Belgium means that he was Flemish-Belgian-German and not French-Belgian-German, or is that another mistake I'm making?
Spot on, Mechelen is Flemish.
Thank you!
Wow a famous Belgian! (or famous grandson of Belgian).
Well, not like the real ones like Django Rheinhard or Toots Tielemans ...
If you're Belgian I apologise. I've had lovely holidays there twice.
Lol. Am not belgian, but a fan of their food and most if it, beer.
Yes, we find immigrants and grandsons/ daughters of immigrants everywhere in Europe. The ability to integrate them in new societies has been a strength to most of Europe.
Exactly. I still find it funny that England's favourite composer was a german, Georg Friedrich Händel.
Why do you find that funny? The Royal Family are of German descent. Handel came to England with the first Hanoverian monarch, George I.
I do not think that ‘defeat’ translates into Ukrainian at all! Thank you for making this commentary available, I found it enlightening and encouraging.
Thank you Stefan. Your missives are very often the highlight of my week.
Very much appreciated as always Stefan, thank you for your hard work 👍
Bravo, Stefan. The 'peace process' is now a sideshow. It gives politicians and journalists something to do instead of addressing or reporting more immediate events.
No need to apologise. First of all, like many others I am very grateful for what you are doing. Second, what you wrote was correct. Ludwig van Beethoven was 100% German. Look at the national football teams of Germany, France, England, the Netherlands, Belgium, DNA from all over the world but the players represent their country. An immigrant grandfather is just a tiny detail.
Thanks Stefan - you sound so optimistic about drones but the same I think is also true about Russia - FPV drones are an area where it is so easy to catch up; a real mouse and cat game.
Wasn’t it the retreat from Sudzha because the Russian managed to establish air superiority of all kind of drones?
Greetings from Romania! A lot of great news! But I read in the NYTimes that the russians are making and sending to the front lines A LOT of FPV drones as well... I really hope my Ukrainians brothers will manufacture a hell of a lot more and kill the russian terrorists.
Everything I read and hear says the Ukrainians are far ahead of Russia in small drone production. Both sides say it.
Thank you for the analysis. The drone war… very interesting development. And one must assume then that we will soon get anti-drone drones. Yes, Ukraine can produce them, and hopefully Europe will support if not drones at least the rest of the war. But I am still afraid Drumpf will fuck things up.
Anti-drone drones already exist. It's one of the reasons why Russia has lost a lot of ISR drones.
What you really meant was anti-anti-drone drones, no?
I dues both will be developed and continue to be developed.
Thank you Stefan for this enlightening article, I so look forward to reading your reports its so nice to hear from a person who lives in Ukraine and reports from there not some so called experts from half way around the world and from people that think the war crimes committed by russia are propaganda, like the Consumer Cellular commercial says it nice to talk to real people
Thank you, Stefan.
What about the 430 POWs to be charged as "terrorists" and the 68,000 liquidated soldiers and the 7000 destroyed military assets?
Or, is this just Putin's propaganda as you implicitly suggest?
I think those numbers have the same origin as "Kyiv in three days"
Can you imagine the poor military briefers in the White House trying to tell Trump that none of that is true?
I read in the news that the intell people did, but he decided he knew better.
Thanks for the informative post. I think that at least the camera and the CPU of the drones will be procured from outside Ukraine (Taiwan?), since that country doesn't have an advanced semiconductor factory as far as I know.
What happened to the 100 billion rearmament program for Germany which was announced by the previous chancellor in 2022?
Don't know anything about that program, will have to check. You're right, the camera and CPU come from outside Ukraine, but, they are components that are impossible to stop with sanctions, there are too many sources on the international markets.