Month: May 2026

#Counterterrorism  #Counterintelligence  #CIA
x.com/mikenov/status/2056762… – Quote
Trump’s Counterterrorism and CIA Overhaul  gemini.google.com/share/a82a…
Trump Overhauls Counterterrorism and CIA Strategy – Google Search  google.com/search?q=Trump+Ov…
AI Overview:
President Trump’s 2026 Counterterrorism Strategy significantly reframes U.S. security priorities. Spearheaded by National Security Council official Sebastian Gorka, the 16-page memo broadens the national security apparatus to target “narcoterrorists” and domestic “left-wing extremists” alongside traditional Islamist militants. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key components of the administration’s revised strategy include:

Narco-Terrorism Focus: The administration treats Latin American drug cartels as its top Western Hemisphere security threat. The strategy officially folds counter-narcotics into broader counterterrorism objectives, permitting direct military strikes against cartel operations and vessels.
New Domestic Targets: The policy explicitly directs federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to monitor and neutralize left-wing political groups and anarchists, naming groups like Antifa alongside violent secular activists.
Global Rebalancing: The U.S. is stepping away from long-term, large-scale troop deployments in regions like Africa, shifting instead to a decentralized model of targeted strikes, intelligence sharing, and local security partnerships.
CIA and Intelligence Overhaul: The administration’s overhaul features a major push against the traditional intelligence community, which the White House has frequently criticized as a “weaponized” political tool. By realigning the intelligence community, the CIA and related agencies are being pressured to abandon long-standing bureaucratic methodologies in favor of prioritizing the administration’s new domestic and hemispheric objectives. [1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

For a detailed analysis of how these changes impact the intelligence framework, read the Lawfaremedia Analysis. You can also review the full 2026 USCT Strategy (PDF) published by the White House.

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1]  lawfaremedia.org/article/tru…
[2]  propublica.org/article/trump…
[3]  instagram.com/reel/DYNzC2qFd…
[4]  theintercept.com/2026/05/15/…
[5]  reuters.com/world/us/trump-s…
[6]  facebook.com/firstpostin/pos…
[7]  npr.org/2026/05/07/g-s1-1206…
[8]  time.com/article/2026/05/06/…
[9]  ajc.com/opinion/opinion-trum…

Trump’s Counterterrorism and CIA Overhaul  gemini.google.com/share/a82a…
In May 2026, the Trump administration enacted a major overhaul of its national security apparatus with the release of the 2026 National Counterterrorism Strategy, alongside a heavily aligned 2026 Annual Threat Assessment from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).

This new framework represents a dramatic shift from both the Biden administration’s approach and Trump’s own first-term policies, broadening the traditional definition of terrorism and directing the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the broader Intelligence Community (IC) to refocus their resources on hemispheric and domestic political threats.

Here is a breakdown of how the administration is reshaping counterterrorism and intelligence strategy:

Redefining the Terrorist Threat

The 16-page counterterrorism memo, spearheaded by senior National Security Council director Sebastian Gorka, officially categorizes the nation’s primary threats into three distinct groups:

Narcoterrorists and Transnational Gangs: In a marked departure from prioritizing overseas threats, the strategy elevates the Western Hemisphere to the top of the priority list. It officially classifies Latin American drug cartels (like the Sinaloa Cartel and Tren de Aragua) as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), granting the military and intelligence agencies expanded powers to dismantle their financing, logistics, and border operations.
Violent Left-Wing Extremists: The administration reversed the Biden-era focus on far-right and white supremacist domestic terrorism. Instead, the strategy explicitly targets “left-wing extremists, including anarchists and anti-fascists,” (such as Antifa). The framework pledges to use counterterrorism tools to map these networks, track their funding, and dismantle them domestically.
Legacy Islamist Terrorists: While groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda remain on the list, the strategy specifically identifies the Muslim Brotherhood as the “progenitor” of modern jihadist movements and prioritizes degrading their influence globally.

Overhauling the CIA and Intelligence Community

The Trump administration has been highly critical of the intelligence apparatus, with the strategy memo castigating what it calls the “weaponization” of the IC by prior leadership. To force alignment, the administration is shifting how the CIA and other agencies operate:

Aligning with “America First” Priorities: On May 10, 2026, DNI Tulsi Gabbard released the IC’s Annual Threat Assessment, which formally restructured the intelligence community’s priorities to mirror Trump’s National Security Strategy. The immediate intelligence focus is now on Homeland defense—specifically border security, tracking transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and disrupting the flow of fentanyl precursors.
Targeting State-Sponsored Support: The CIA and broader IC are tasked with identifying and degrading covert lines of support provided to cartels and Islamists by foreign adversaries. This includes stepping up covert operations, offensive cyber campaigns, and intelligence gathering to intercept shadow fleet oil tankers and disrupt dual-use technology transfers.
A Shift from Capacity Building to Direct Action: Past strategies heavily emphasized training and building the capacity of foreign partners to fight terrorism locally. The 2026 framework largely abandons this in favor of direct, unilateral kinetic action (“we will find you and we will kill you”), economic sanctions, and covert operations.

Pushback and Criticism

This strategic overhaul has been highly controversial among civil society groups and some national security experts. Critics argue that designating domestic left-wing groups as terrorist threats blurs the line between national security and political opposition, potentially exposing justice-oriented and progressive nonprofits to heavy surveillance and criminal liability.

Furthermore, some intelligence analysts warn that by diverting limited counterterrorism resources toward border enforcement and Latin American cartels, the U.S. risks leaving fewer intelligence assets available to monitor complex threats from global jihadist networks and state adversaries like Iran, Russia, and China.Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) #CIA  #FBI  #Mossad
“Selective Approach” (M.N.)
thenewsandtimes.blogspot.com…
Trump Overhauls Counterterrorism and CIA Strategy – “Selective Approach” (M.N.) : The Trump administration has introduced a new counterterrorism strategy focusing on Mexican drug cartels and domestic political groups. This shift moves away from traditional priorities to target narco-terrorists and specific political organizations with the same intensity.  thenewsandtimes.blogspot.com…—  https://x.com/mikenov/status/2056762658204848248

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 19, 2026

Trump’s Counterterrorism and CIA Overhaul  gemini.google.com/share/a82a…
Trump Overhauls Counterterrorism and CIA Strategy – Google Search  google.com/search?q=Trump+Ov…
President Trump’s 2026 Counterterrorism Strategy significantly reframes U.S. security priorities. Spearheaded by National Security Council official Sebastian Gorka, the 16-page memo broadens the national security apparatus to target “narcoterrorists” and domestic “left-wing extremists” alongside traditional Islamist militants. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key components of the administration’s revised strategy include:

Narco-Terrorism Focus: The administration treats Latin American drug cartels as its top Western Hemisphere security threat. The strategy officially folds counter-narcotics into broader counterterrorism objectives, permitting direct military strikes against cartel operations and vessels.
New Domestic Targets: The policy explicitly directs federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to monitor and neutralize left-wing political groups and anarchists, naming groups like Antifa alongside violent secular activists.
Global Rebalancing: The U.S. is stepping away from long-term, large-scale troop deployments in regions like Africa, shifting instead to a decentralized model of targeted strikes, intelligence sharing, and local security partnerships.
CIA and Intelligence Overhaul: The administration’s overhaul features a major push against the traditional intelligence community, which the White House has frequently criticized as a “weaponized” political tool. By realigning the intelligence community, the CIA and related agencies are being pressured to abandon long-standing bureaucratic methodologies in favor of prioritizing the administration’s new domestic and hemispheric objectives. [1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

For a detailed analysis of how these changes impact the intelligence framework, read the Lawfaremedia Analysis. You can also review the full 2026 USCT Strategy (PDF) published by the White House.

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1]  lawfaremedia.org/article/tru…
[2]  propublica.org/article/trump…
[3]  instagram.com/reel/DYNzC2qFd…
[4]  theintercept.com/2026/05/15/…
[5]  reuters.com/world/us/trump-s…
[6]  facebook.com/firstpostin/pos…
[7]  npr.org/2026/05/07/g-s1-1206…
[8]  time.com/article/2026/05/06/…
[9]  ajc.com/opinion/opinion-trum…

Trump’s Counterterrorism and CIA Overhaul  gemini.google.com/share/a82a…
In May 2026, the Trump administration enacted a major overhaul of its national security apparatus with the release of the 2026 National Counterterrorism Strategy, alongside a heavily aligned 2026 Annual Threat Assessment from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).

This new framework represents a dramatic shift from both the Biden administration’s approach and Trump’s own first-term policies, broadening the traditional definition of terrorism and directing the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the broader Intelligence Community (IC) to refocus their resources on hemispheric and domestic political threats.

Here is a breakdown of how the administration is reshaping counterterrorism and intelligence strategy:

Redefining the Terrorist Threat

The 16-page counterterrorism memo, spearheaded by senior National Security Council director Sebastian Gorka, officially categorizes the nation’s primary threats into three distinct groups:

Narcoterrorists and Transnational Gangs: In a marked departure from prioritizing overseas threats, the strategy elevates the Western Hemisphere to the top of the priority list. It officially classifies Latin American drug cartels (like the Sinaloa Cartel and Tren de Aragua) as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), granting the military and intelligence agencies expanded powers to dismantle their financing, logistics, and border operations.
Violent Left-Wing Extremists: The administration reversed the Biden-era focus on far-right and white supremacist domestic terrorism. Instead, the strategy explicitly targets “left-wing extremists, including anarchists and anti-fascists,” (such as Antifa). The framework pledges to use counterterrorism tools to map these networks, track their funding, and dismantle them domestically.
Legacy Islamist Terrorists: While groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda remain on the list, the strategy specifically identifies the Muslim Brotherhood as the “progenitor” of modern jihadist movements and prioritizes degrading their influence globally.

Overhauling the CIA and Intelligence Community

The Trump administration has been highly critical of the intelligence apparatus, with the strategy memo castigating what it calls the “weaponization” of the IC by prior leadership. To force alignment, the administration is shifting how the CIA and other agencies operate:

Aligning with “America First” Priorities: On May 10, 2026, DNI Tulsi Gabbard released the IC’s Annual Threat Assessment, which formally restructured the intelligence community’s priorities to mirror Trump’s National Security Strategy. The immediate intelligence focus is now on Homeland defense—specifically border security, tracking transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and disrupting the flow of fentanyl precursors.
Targeting State-Sponsored Support: The CIA and broader IC are tasked with identifying and degrading covert lines of support provided to cartels and Islamists by foreign adversaries. This includes stepping up covert operations, offensive cyber campaigns, and intelligence gathering to intercept shadow fleet oil tankers and disrupt dual-use technology transfers.
A Shift from Capacity Building to Direct Action: Past strategies heavily emphasized training and building the capacity of foreign partners to fight terrorism locally. The 2026 framework largely abandons this in favor of direct, unilateral kinetic action (“we will find you and we will kill you”), economic sanctions, and covert operations.

Pushback and Criticism

This strategic overhaul has been highly controversial among civil society groups and some national security experts. Critics argue that designating domestic left-wing groups as terrorist threats blurs the line between national security and political opposition, potentially exposing justice-oriented and progressive nonprofits to heavy surveillance and criminal liability.

Furthermore, some intelligence analysts warn that by diverting limited counterterrorism resources toward border enforcement and Latin American cartels, the U.S. risks leaving fewer intelligence assets available to monitor complex threats from global jihadist networks and state adversaries like Iran, Russia, and China.

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 19, 2026

Trump’s Counterterrorism and CIA Overhaul  gemini.google.com/share/a82a…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 19, 2026

#CIA  #FBI  #Mossad
“Selective Approach” (M.N.)
thenewsandtimes.blogspot.com…
Trump Overhauls Counterterrorism and CIA Strategy – “Selective Approach” (M.N.) : The Trump administration has introduced a new counterterrorism strategy focusing on Mexican drug cartels and domestic political groups. This shift moves away from traditional priorities to target narco-terrorists and specific political organizations with the same intensity.  thenewsandtimes.blogspot.com…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 19, 2026

#Mexico  #CIA
x.com/defense_civil25/status…
Fire the  #cartels‘ COVER GIRL and send her to the stinking ash heap of history, where she belongs.US Homeland Security News (@defense_civil25)🚨Update: President Trump has ordered his DOJ, DHS and CIA to go after corrupt Mexican Narco politicians! They’ve gone after Governors, Senators, and appointed officials! Cartel controlled Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is starting to feel the heat!—  https://x.com/defense_civil25/status/2056483096568955160

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 19, 2026

Counterterrorism operations of President Trump – Google Search  google.com/search?q=Countert…
Quote:  x.com/SebGorka/status/205566…
Which report is more informative: From the Google AI or from Gorka?
And what does this mean?
Ai Overview
President Trump’s counterterrorism operations operate under his second-term counterterrorism strategy, which shifts focus to a three-pronged approach: combating transnational drug cartels, legacy Islamist terror groups, and left-wing domestic extremists, including Antifa. [1]
Global & Regional Operations

Western Hemisphere & Cartels: Designating drug cartels as priority terrorist threats has led to expanded maritime military operations. The U.S. military has conducted dozens of lethal strikes and interdiction operations against alleged “narco-terrorists” and cartel vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Africa: The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and allied regional forces have escalated strikes. Notable operations in Nigeria eliminated high-ranking ISIS leaders, including global second-in-command Abu-Bilal al-Minuki.
Middle East: The administration has targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, conducted retaliatory strikes against hostile forces in Syria, and launched campaigns against Houthi militants in Yemen. [2, 3, 4, 5]

Domestic Focus & Strategy

New Security Strategy: Released in May, the administration’s new 16-page Counterterrorism Strategy explicitly treats both violent secular political groups and foreign cartels with the same severity as international Islamist terror networks.
Financial Sanctions: The administration aggressively utilizes economic tools—such as those tracked by the U.S. Department of State—to issue international designations, freeze assets, and choke off funding pipelines. [1, 6, 7, 8]

Interagency Leadership

Intelligence & Defense Oversight: Counterterrorism policy is directed through the White House and the National Security Council. Key leadership includes FBI Director Kash Patel, who oversees intelligence synthesis and operations across the interagency community, and National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) Director Joe Kent. [6, 9, 10]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1]  lawfaremedia.org/article/tru…
[2]  youtube.com/watch?v=oHhiKEzR…
[3]  cfr.org/articles/guide-trump…
[4]  thehill.com/policy/national-…
[5]  facebook.com/firstpostin/pos…
[6]  instagram.com/reel/DYNzC2qFd…
[7]  2017-2021.state.gov/countert…
[8]  georgewbush-whitehouse.archi…
[9]  dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/p…
[10]  fbi.gov/about/leadership-and…Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka)Do you know what happened in the last 24 hours?

1. Late on Thursday night  @FBI agents landed at New York Stewart International Airport with Mohammad al Saadi in handcuffs. Al Saadi, the leader of an Iran-backed Iraqi terror group is allegedly responsible for more than 20 attacks across Europe and Canada and for planning attacks in the U.S..

2. Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, who goes by “Chuqui,” the highest ranking Tren de Aragua leader to be extradited to the U.S., also just landed in the U.S. in shackles. Flores allegedly oversaw TdA’s drug trafficking, extortion rackets, prostitution rings and murder operations.

Then, last night, in an operation that makes any fictional representation look amateurish, American operators, working with local Nigerian forces, killed Abu-Bilal-al-Minuki, the second in command for ISIS global operations, a man with the blood of countless innocents on his hands, including many Christians.

This is just one day in the Counterterrorism operations of President  @realDonaldTrump.

We salute the intelligence professionals, Law Enforcement Officers, Diplomats, Military operators and support personnel who make these operations possible 24/7.
@WhiteHouse
@DeptofWar
@TheJusticeDept
@StateDept—  https://x.com/SebGorka/status/2055661268325843057

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 19, 2026

#CIA  #FBI  #Mossad
Putin’s China Visit: Strategic Alignment  gemini.google.com/share/b21e…
Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently in Beijing for a two-day state visit (May 19–20, 2026). Officially, the trip is timed to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Sino-Russian Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation. However, the timing and agenda of this meeting—occurring just days after US President Donald Trump concluded his own high-profile visit to China—carry significant strategic weight.

Here is a breakdown of the visit’s core objectives and its broader geopolitical implications.

The Geopolitical Sequence

Hosting the leaders of the world’s two most prominent geopolitical rivals in back-to-back meetings is a calculated maneuver by Beijing.

For China: It projects an image of a central diplomatic node capable of balanced engagement. Xi Jinping is using this sequence to pursue selective de-escalation with Washington regarding trade and regional flashpoints (like the ongoing conflict in Iran), while simultaneously signaling to Moscow that their strategic partnership remains intact.
For Russia: Arriving on the heels of the US delegation, Putin is likely seeking detailed debriefs on the US-China discussions. His priority is probing for any shifts in Beijing’s stance that could impact secondary sanctions enforcement, dual-use exports, or China’s diplomatic positioning on the war in Ukraine.

Military and Intelligence Coordination

While the public agenda focuses on education and cultural exchanges, the operational core of the visit centers on deepening asymmetric military and intelligence cooperation.

Technology Transfers: The partnership continues to facilitate the exchange of Russian operational insights—gained from the battlefield in Ukraine—for Chinese industrial-scale manufacturing capacity. This includes critical components for electronic warfare, algorithmic targeting systems, and drone deployment.
Sanctions Evasion: As Russia navigates severe international isolation, the two leaders are working to optimize alternative financial architectures and clandestine supply chains that allow Moscow to bypass Western sanctions and maintain its military-industrial output.

Energy Supply Chains

A primary economic focus of the talks between Putin and Chinese Premier Li Qiang revolves around shifting energy architectures.

Discussions are expected to heavily feature the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline. Securing long-term energy agreements allows Russia to pivot its export reliance fully toward the East, while providing China with the land-based, sanction-resistant energy supply it requires to insulate its economy against potential maritime blockades.

Ultimately, this visit is less about dramatic diplomatic breakthroughs and more about pragmatic calibration. For Moscow, it is a vital lifeline to sustain its current operational tempo; for Beijing, it is an exercise in extracting maximum leverage from a highly uneven, yet indispensable, partnership.

Pic.:
Putin in China –  google.com/search?num=10&new…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 19, 2026

#Xi‘s  #Ukraine  #Peace Offer: Fake?  gemini.google.com/share/1280…
Quote: “According to sources close to the Office of the President, the Chinese leader reportedly stated directly:  “China is ready to ensure the return of Crimea and Donbas to Ukraine. We have enough influence over Moscow to make it happen.”
x.com/Oct7NeverForget/status…
This quote should be treated as fake news.

Based on current news reports and official statements, there is no credible evidence that Xi Jinping said this or that this phone call took place. The claim in the post appears to be fabricated or unverified rumor.
Here is what is actually happening in the news right now (as of mid-May 2026):

The Trump-Xi Summit in Beijing: US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping recently met in Beijing and discussed the war in Ukraine. According to a Financial Times report published on May 19, 2026, Xi reportedly told Trump that Vladimir Putin could ultimately “regret” launching the war.
China’s Stance: While there are signs that China may be subtly shifting its rhetoric or expressing frustrations behind closed doors, Beijing has never officially or credibly offered to “ensure the return of Crimea and Donbas,” nor have they publicly declared they will use their influence to force Moscow to give up those territories.
No Call with Zelensky: There are no reports from Ukrainian state media, the Office of the President of Ukraine, Chinese state media, or major international outlets (such as Reuters, AP, or Bloomberg) confirming a recent phone call between Xi and Zelensky where such an offer was made.

Conclusion:
The post uses classic hallmarks of social media engagement bait and disinformation—citing unnamed “sources close to the Office of the President” and relying on sensationalist framing (“stunned him,” “shocked absolutely everyone,” “You definitely were not ready for this”). Until confirmed by official channels or credible journalists, this quote should be treated as fake news.

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 19, 2026

#FBI  #News:  #May2026 Developments  gemini.google.com/share/1a66…
Here are the most significant recent developments and operations involving the FBI as of mid-May 2026:
Counterintelligence & Espionage:
$200,000 Reward for Defector Monica Witt: On May 14, the FBI’s Washington Field Office announced a $200,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Monica Witt, a former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence specialist. Witt defected to Iran in 2013 and was indicted in 2019 for espionage. She is accused of betraying her oath by transmitting classified national defense information to the Iranian regime and conducting research to help Iran target her former U.S. government colleagues.

Institutional & Political Investigations

Indictment of Former Director James Comey: In a major development late last month, a federal grand jury in North Carolina indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of making threats to harm President Trump. The two-count indictment stems from a May 2025 Instagram post that prosecutors allege was a serious expression of intent to do harm. Comey faces charges of Threatening the President and Transmitting a Threat in Interstate Commerce.
Raid on Virginia Lawmaker’s Office: The FBI recently executed search warrants at the Portsmouth, Virginia, office of State Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas. The raid, which also included a search of a nearby cannabis dispensary, is reportedly part of a broader, ongoing public corruption investigation.

Surveillance & Technology

Push for Nationwide License Plate Tracking: Procurement documents revealed on May 18 indicate that the FBI is actively seeking to purchase nationwide access to automated license plate readers (ALPRs) from commercial vendors. This initiative would potentially allow the agency to track the movements of vehicles—and by extension, individuals—across the country without a warrant, prompting renewed debate over privacy and the expansion of federal surveillance capabilities.

Domestic Security Responses

San Diego Islamic Center Shooting: On May 18, the FBI’s San Diego Field Office deployed special agents, evidence response personnel, and task force officers to assist local law enforcement following an active shooter incident at the Islamic Center of San Diego. The tragic event resulted in the deaths of three victims, as well as the two teenage suspects.

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 19, 2026

#CIA  #FBI  #Mossad
Ukraine’s Drone Production Accuracy Verified  gemini.google.com/share/5d19…
Conclusion: The author’s data is sound. Ukraine has successfully bootstrapped an entirely domestic assembly network using imported components to achieve a wartime production scale of up to 7 million drones annually, far outpacing the peacetime procurement and manufacturing rates of traditional Western defense sectors.
Quote:  x.com/eye_walking/status/205…
Yes, the numbers in the post are highly accurate. They align closely with official statements released by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and reports from military analysts and defense publications throughout 2025 and early 2026.

Here is a breakdown of how the numbers in the post compare to the public data:

The Production Curve (2023 to 2026): Correct. The trajectory cited in the post matches the exact figures released by the Ukrainian government. Ukraine produced approximately 800,000 drones in 2023 and scaled to 2.2 million in 2024. Production throughout 2025 cleared 4 million units. In January 2026, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defense Serhiy Boev officially announced that the country aims to produce over 7 million drones in 2026.
The US vs. Ukraine Comparison: Correct. A January 2026 report by Bloomberg calculated that the US defense industry manufactures approximately 100,000 combat drones per year. Ukraine’s target of 7 million units is exactly 70 times that of the current United States output.
Monthly FPV Output: Correct. In February 2025, Ukraine’s First Deputy Minister of Defense Ivan Havryliuk publicly stated that the supply of drones (primarily FPVs) surged from 20,000 units a month in early 2024 to roughly 200,000 units per month by early 2025, and continues to grow.
99% Domestic Assembly: Highly Accurate, but with a caveat. In late 2024, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated that over 96% of the UAVs used by Ukraine’s Defense Forces were manufactured/assembled by domestic enterprises. However, defense think tanks like RUSI have pointed out a critical distinction: while the assembly of these drones happens almost entirely in Ukraine, the supply chain is still highly dependent on foreign imports. A vast majority of the individual components (like flight controllers, motors, and thermal cameras) are still imported, primarily from China.

Conclusion:
The author’s data is sound. Ukraine has successfully bootstrapped an entirely domestic assembly network using imported components to achieve a wartime production scale of up to 7 million drones annually, far outpacing the peacetime procurement and manufacturing rates of traditional Western defense sectors.

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 19, 2026