Illia Ponomarenko

Illia Ponomarenko

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Defense reporter (Kyiv Independent); on‑the‑ground military systems and operations.

Restricting Ukraine Aid Empowered Russia’s War Machine
SocialMay 11, 2026

Restricting Ukraine Aid Empowered Russia’s War Machine

A trillion sophisticated-sounding words instead of admitting the most obvious fact: the policy of painfully and artificially restricting military aid to Ukraine in hopes of “avoiding escalation” and “making Putin come to his senses” was catastrophically wrong, deeply misguided, and...

By Illia Ponomarenko
Ukraine Trades 1,000 POWs for Putin's Peace
SocialMay 8, 2026

Ukraine Trades 1,000 POWs for Putin's Peace

In other words, Ukraine made Putin buy peace and quiet for his freaky “victory day parade” in Moscow in exchange for 1,000 Ukrainian POWs getting back home. An excellent trade, if you ask me.

By Illia Ponomarenko
Russia’s War on Ukraine Is Failing, Burning Refineries Signal Defeat
SocialMay 7, 2026

Russia’s War on Ukraine Is Failing, Burning Refineries Signal Defeat

Well, I honestly don’t know what else there is left to say when, in the fifth year of the Kremlin’s war to take Kyiv in three days, oil refineries are burning daily in the Urals and air raid sirens are...

By Illia Ponomarenko
Defenders Labeled Warmongers for Targeting Aggressor's War Machine
SocialMay 7, 2026

Defenders Labeled Warmongers for Targeting Aggressor's War Machine

Moreover, they are accused of being "warmongers" when their defense forces target the aggressor's war machine to stop the killings.

By Illia Ponomarenko
Ukraine May Skip Moscow Parade, Strike Hidden Russian Targets
SocialMay 6, 2026

Ukraine May Skip Moscow Parade, Strike Hidden Russian Targets

It will be monumentally hilarious if, amid all this drama, Ukraine ultimately choses not to strike the “victory day parade” in Moscow at all -- but instead uses the opportunity to hit exposed military factories and oil terminals all across...

By Illia Ponomarenko
Russia's Year-Long War Mirrors WWI Length, Still Failing
SocialMay 4, 2026

Russia's Year-Long War Mirrors WWI Length, Still Failing

In just over a month, the duration of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine will match that of the entire World War I. And the entire might of Russia and its totalitarian allies, as well as of the Kremlin's corrupt useful morons...

By Illia Ponomarenko
Armenia's Shift Marks Major Blow to Putin's Influence
SocialMay 3, 2026

Armenia's Shift Marks Major Blow to Putin's Influence

Mother of god. This is already nothing short of a colossal and humiliating slap in Putin’s face. Russia has ultimately lost Armenia as part of its sphere of influence, and this is far from the end.

By Illia Ponomarenko
Russia's 2026 Fear: Calls US for Ukraine Ceasefire
SocialApr 29, 2026

Russia's 2026 Fear: Calls US for Ukraine Ceasefire

If you ever feel pathetic, just remember that in 2026 the mighty invincible superpower Russia was calling the President of the United States to arrange a one-day ceasefire with Ukraine for May 9 -- because Putin is now too afraid...

By Illia Ponomarenko
Kremlin's Tuapse Oil Port Plans Stalled Indefinitely
SocialApr 28, 2026

Kremlin's Tuapse Oil Port Plans Stalled Indefinitely

It looks like the Kremlin will have to forget about the oil port & terminal in Tuapse for a long time now. https://t.co/YGjodfDFte

By Illia Ponomarenko
Ukraine Mounts P1‑SUN Interceptor Drones on An‑28s
SocialApr 23, 2026

Ukraine Mounts P1‑SUN Interceptor Drones on An‑28s

Here’s another piece of Ukrainian know-how: P1-SUN interceptor drones mounted on veteran An-28 aircraft. https://t.co/SGIt4QZr58

By Illia Ponomarenko
Putin's Clownish Press Act Masks Russian Army's Failures
SocialApr 22, 2026

Putin's Clownish Press Act Masks Russian Army's Failures

The more smirking, giggling, sleazy jokes, awkward clowning, and empty bravado Putin puts on at his press conferences, the worse things are going for the Russian army on the front lines in Ukraine.

By Illia Ponomarenko
Trump’s Truce Extension Exposes U.S. Weakness Amid Iran Blockade
SocialApr 21, 2026

Trump’s Truce Extension Exposes U.S. Weakness Amid Iran Blockade

So let me get this straight: Iran not only refuses further negotiations, it doesn't even bother to show up, is keeping the Strait of Hormuz blocked -- and Donald Trump, after all the bravado, threats of extermination, and chest-thumping, just...

By Illia Ponomarenko
Ukraine Uses Sea‑borne Interceptor Drone to Down Shahed
SocialApr 19, 2026

Ukraine Uses Sea‑borne Interceptor Drone to Down Shahed

Ukraine’s 412th Unmanned Systems Brigade ‘Nemesis’ reports that it has, for the first time in history, shot down a Russian Shahed drone using an interceptor drone from a maritime platform. Another day, another new word spoken by Ukraine in this new...

By Illia Ponomarenko
Demanding Suspension of Disinformation Accounts Fueling Ukraine War
SocialApr 18, 2026

Demanding Suspension of Disinformation Accounts Fueling Ukraine War

Seriously — accounts that spread disinformation and propaganda should be reviewed by this platform’s moderation for suspension once they accumulate a certain number of verified and reliable community notes. This has long gone beyond any acceptable limits. This is not a...

By Illia Ponomarenko
Illia Ponomarenko | Pulse