Ukraine: The Latest Pentagon 'asks Ukraine for help' to shoot down Iranian weapons & Putin swells regular Russian army to 2.4 million men
17 snips
Mar 5, 2026 
Gaël Veyssière, French ambassador in Kyiv, outlines France’s military aid and coalition planning. James Kilner, Russian analyst, breaks down Kremlin messaging and regional tensions. They discuss Iranian drones and talks to buy Ukrainian interceptors. They cover Putin swelling Russia’s army, Moscow’s domestic narratives, and France’s preparations for possible deployments.
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Putin Swells Army Without Full Mobilization
- Russia expanded its regular army to nearly 2.4 million via decrees and year-round conscription to avoid full mobilization backlash.
- Vladimir Putin uses contracts, recruitment bonuses and legal tweaks rather than mass conscription, even as Ukraine claims it kills more soldiers than Russia replaces.
US And Gulf States Eye Ukrainian Interceptors
- The Pentagon and at least one Gulf state are reportedly seeking Ukrainian-made interceptor drones to counter waves of cheap Iranian Shahed drones.
- Gulf states want cheaper mass-defence options because Patriots are costly and stocks are dwindling, prompting US talks with Kyiv and on-site Ukrainian teams.
F-16 Missiles Ran Low During Winter Air Campaign
- Reuters revealed Ukraine's F-16s lacked enough missiles to counter drones and missiles for over three weeks during a key winter campaign.
- Shortages came as partners’ stocks dried up in late Nov–mid Dec, worsening Ukraine's air-defence strain despite allied support.