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Bloomberg.com reported more bad news for Russian President Putin and Russia’s already flagging economy.

Russia’s flagship crude oil price has decreased to levels before the recent conflict in the Middle East, adding even more strain on the economy that is stretched razor-thin by the war in Ukraine.

Putin Clapping Russia Federation Photo

Russia’s Urals grade averaged $41.66 per barrel at Russia’s western ports in the first three days of July, less than half the level at the height of the oil market spike in April, according to Argus Media data.

Ukraine’s long-range drone campaign shows no sign of slowing down after Ukrainian forces once again struck Russian military logistics using drones and missiles. On July 5, Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces struck a Russian airfield, ammunition depots, and bridges throughout occupied regions of Ukraine.

The Marines are setting up a new organization to oversee training and standardization efforts related to small drones and counter-small unmanned aerial systems, according to a MARADMIN announcement issued July 2.
The Marine Corps Robotics Integration Group (MCRIG) will be based at Twentynine Palms, California, and is expected to serve as the “focal point” for Group 1 and Group 2 UAS and C-sUAS training integration, standardization and coordination across the force and support the development of tactics, techniques and procedures for employment of those types of platforms.

The conflict in Iran caused what has been characterized as the largest energy disruption in world history, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The IEA’s Executive Director has said the combined impacts amount to “the greatest threat to global energy security in history.”

President Donald Trump boards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House en route to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on Thursday, September 11, 2025, for a trip to New York.

Stepping up to Nato leadership, Europe will need to confront some existential questions regarding industrial capacity and C-UAS.

On Sunday night, the Russians launched another large mass missile/drone attack against Kyiv, targeting military industrial sites and energy infrastructure.

At least 15 civilians were killed by the strikes, with many more wounded in the capital and in the surrounding regions. After the attack had finished, the Ukrainian Air Force stated that the country is currently facing a “serious shortage” of interceptor missiles, which hinders its ability to intercept Russia’s ballistic missiles.

Iskander-M. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

South Korea’s K239 Chunmoo Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is gaining popularity around the globe, particularly within NATO. Poland, Estonia, and Norway have all signed contracts with Hanwha Aerospace for the truck-mounted systems, and in Norway’s case, leaders picked it over the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS. 
On paper, Chunmoo and HIMARS are very similar. Both are truck-mounted systems that can fire rockets with ranges out to 500 kilometers, and can be transported by aircraft as small as a C-130.

Welcome to The Ukraine Compass, a weekly digest of Ukrainian commentary and analysis from across the political spectrum only for War on the Rocks members. Each Monday, we bring you a curated selection of articles from Ukrainian media offering insight into how Ukrainians themselves debate the issues shaping their country.American coverage often narrows the view to the battlefield — these pieces widen it, revealing the texture of daily life, politics, and public argument in a nation at war.

The Portuguese Army is set to bolster its operational capabilities through the acquisition of three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.

Putin May Be Realizing He Cannot Win the War: Speaking to France 24, Nick Holdsworth, the network’s former Moscow correspondent, argued that the Russian president is under “increasing pressure” on the front and may finally be coming to terms with the possibility that he may not win the war.

And he’s not the only one who thinks Putin may be starting to face reality: U.S. President Donald Trump made similar comments on Monday, implying that Putin may finally be willing to talk.

What Holdsworth Said

Tu-160 Bomber Russian Air Force Photo

Tu-160 Bomber from Russia.