😁🇺🇦 "Love Ukraine": Budanov named a simple way to avoid getting into his "red notebook"

He noted that this list is constantly being replenished, and no one is written down there "in pencil", but he named a simple and effective way to avoid getting into the list.

ATESH partisans set fire to a diesel locomotive in Saint Petersburg, disrupting oil logistics in Russia's northwestern region. The locomotive was transporting oil cargo and securing supply chains for the region's industrial and energy infrastructure.

The US Navy has deployed laser-equipped destroyers in the Arabian Sea southeast of Iran, The War Zone reports.

According to the publication, laser systems are installed both on ships carrying out combat missions in key regions and on vessels undergoing scheduled maintenance. In total, nine such destroyers are equipped with these systems.

Particular attention is being paid to areas with high drone activity. For example, USS Spruance and USS John Finn are currently operating near Iran. During the US-Israeli operation “Epic Fury” on February 28, 2026, USS Spruance reportedly used its ODIN system while launching Tomahawk cruise missiles. USS Gridley, operating in the Caribbean, is also equipped with a laser system, while the remaining ships are either in home ports or undergoing maintenance.

Most of the nine ships carry the ODIN system — a laser “blinder” designed to disrupt optical reconnaissance sensors and infrared guidance systems on strike drones.

So far, only USS Preble, based in Japan, is equipped with the more powerful HELIOS system (Mk 5 Mod 0), a 60-kW laser integrated into the Aegis combat system. It is capable not only of blinding sensors, but also of physically damaging small boats and shooting down drones. During tests, USS Preble reportedly neutralized four targets. The system’s power could eventually be increased to 150 kW.

The Pentagon has allocated significant funding for the development of such technologies in its 2027 defense budget. Priority projects include:

▫️ 150-kW containerized lasers for defense against cruise missiles
▫️ Development of high-power 300–500 kW systems under the JBCS program
▫️ Specialized lasers for intercepting anti-ship missiles under the HELCAP project

At the same time, The War Zone notes that laser weapons still face major limitations.

One of the main drawbacks is short range — lasers are effective only at distances of several miles, making them more of a last line of defense.

Their effectiveness is also highly dependent on weather conditions, as fog, rain, and cloud cover can significantly weaken the beam.

In addition, unlike missiles, lasers must maintain contact with a target for several seconds to inflict damage, which complicates their use against large-scale attacks.

💪 The Armed Forces of Ukraine are liberating villages in the Kharkiv region, - Trehubov

In the Velyky Burlutsk direction, Ukrainian forces have pushed the Russians to the border - in a month the occupiers have lost two settlements.

🇺🇦 Ukrainians should rule over them (Russians), because the real Rus is Ukraine, — Budanov

According to him, Russia has only “privatized” part of Ukrainian history and historical heritage, which was Ukrainian from the very beginning.

🇲🇦🇫🇷 France and Morocco Launch Historic Bilateral Treaty Talks

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot visited Morocco on May 20 for high-level discussions with Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita, during which both sides announced the launch of a bilateral treaty — described by Barrot as a first-of-its-kind agreement between France and a non-European country. Bourita confirmed that King Mohammed VI will travel to France for a state visit coinciding with the signing of what he called an unprecedented political, legal and historic agreement.

Barrot also reaffirmed France's support for Morocco's autonomy proposal over the Western Sahara, reiterating the position set out in a 2024 letter from President Emmanuel Macron to Mohammed VI.

#Morocco

🔸 Source

@africaintel