Donation Report. May 2026

Many significant changes are unfolding, and there’s a growing sense of cautious optimism.
It feels like Ukraine may be starting to regain the initiative on the battlefield.
Many of the recent events are beginning to form a logical chain, with fairly clear implications. 
The long, painstaking work we've put in over all these years, when we couldn't respond adequately but tried, is beginning to bear fruit.

For the first time since the Trump era, the United States has approved a new piece of legislation in support of Ukraine. Considering that Trump has often preferred to align himself with perceived winners, this could suggest that the U.S. is beginning to see signs of a shift in momentum.

At the same time, there’s a broader question: we may already be getting used to operating without what has long been considered the world’s primary arbiter.

That “arbiter” now appears to be stuck in a difficult position in Iran—somewhat similar to the situation Putin faced in Ukraine in 2022—and seems uncertain about how to proceed. For now, much of what we see is posturing on social media: claims of strength and the release of silly questionable AI-generated videos meant to project confidence.

Meanwhile, the drone war in Ukraine is increasingly turning into an even larger drone war.

On the ground, logistics, evacuation of the wounded, and many other tasks are now being handled by small robotic vehicles—essentially unmanned ground platforms. But the real breakthroughs are happening in the air.

Over the past three weeks, according to reports, Ukraine has established drone control over key highways in occupied territories.

New, quiet, electrically powered drones equipped with artificial intelligence are now patrolling russian roads.
They are virtually impossible to detect with instruments; they have no radio signal with their operator.
They fly deep behind enemy lines and begin patrolling the highways, monitoring the situation on the road and independently identifying targets.
If a fuel tanker or military truck is spotted, the drone can strike without human intervention. Once launched, it operates autonomously.
According to OSINT analysts, several hundred fuel tankers were destroyed in such a short period of time.

In just a few weeks, these drones have reportedly destroyed enough fuel tankers to create severe fuel shortages in Crimea and other occupied areas.
Gasoline has become scarce. Logistics are grinding to a halt.

Military drivers can simply be given an order and they will be forced to drive and take risks, but civilian tanker drivers simply refuse to transport cargo.
They know that the probability of being targeted is extremely high.

There are very few major roads in the combat zone, and most are now within reach of these drones.
Supply routes are effectively squeezed between the front line and the sea.
Alternative methods—like using rural roads or transporting fuel in small quantities with civilian vehicles—simply cannot meet the scale of demand required by the front.

Another notable point is that these drones are said to be learning and sharing information with each other.
Their collective “knowledge base” is expanding, meaning each new unit becomes more effective than the last.
Artificial intelligence is now a real factor on the battlefield.

There are ways to counter this—such as deploying mobile machine-gun teams on pick-ups along the roads—but even that leads to a paradox: those units also need fuel, which is now in short supply.
If they remain stationary, they become easy targets.
Air defense systems are limited and cannot be deployed everywhere. It’s a closed loop.

More than a century ago, a well-known American general famously said: “The army wins the battle. Logistics wins the war.” That idea feels especially relevant now.

Logistics are currently disrupted and the russians don’t even understand how to solve this problem.
Frontline infantry are facing supply shortages. Vehicles cannot reliably reach them.
But if you look deeper, drone warfare depends on electricity — batteries must be charged, power controllers, laptops, and operator equipment.
But without fuel, generators can’t run.

There are reports that in some areas, russian units are abandoning positions due to lack of supply.

Perhaps I'm describing the situation as a turning point. Perhaps that's too optimistic. I certainly want it to seem that way.
But I understand that any advanced weaponry at the front lasts for several months until the enemy finds a countermeasure.

But if such a large portion of the battlefield can be affected in just a few weeks, it raises an obvious question: what comes next?

Both sides will adapt. russia will look for countermeasures, and Ukraine will look for ways to overcome them. The pace of this evolution is extremely fast.

Overall, it’s a moment that sparks cautious optimism.
Morale appears to be improving, along with confidence and the willingness to push harder—because, for the first time in a while, a possible end to the war seems faintly visible on the horizon.
I hope we're getting closer to peace every day.