A HUNK, A HUNK OF BURNING OIL: While the ground war in eastern Ukraine has settled into a grinding war of attrition, where Russian forces sacrifice hundreds, sometimes thousands, of troops a day, for small, incremental advances, the air war has the two sides inflicting significant losses on each other’s energy sector.
While Russia continued to target Ukraine’s energy grid with glide bombs and cruise missiles, Ukraine’s home-grown drone fleet has proved remarkably successful in penetrating Russia’s supposed top-of-the-line air defenses and wreaking havoc on fuel depots and oil refineries.
On any given day, social media is filled with videos of burning oil facilities, such as an oil depot in the Saratov region of Russia, which supplies fuel for Russian bombers at the Engels-2 Air Base. The base was just one facility targeted in a large-scale drone and missile attack mounted by Ukraine overnight Sunday into Monday of this week. The state-owned Kombinat Kristal oil storage facility was hit again this week and is still on fire after four days.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sees drones as the great equalizer in the war. As he argued last week in his last face-to-face meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Ramstein, Germany, they are a better alternative to drafting more young men into the army.
“To stop losing people and territories, we need drones,” Zelensky said. “Drones are something that has already changed the nature of war, and the changes are far from over. Today, there is a direct dependence to stop the advance of the enemy.”
“Drones deter the enemy, keep them at a distance. It can be done,” he said
‘A REAL MOMENT OF HISTORY’: When U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Kyiv yesterday to sign a 100-year partnership agreement, the first thing Zelensky wanted to show him was how Ukraine has ramped up drone production in the past year, bringing the British leader to meet with domestic drone manufacturers.
“Representatives from the manufacturing companies provided detailed information on the drones’ specifications, their applications, and shared relevant examples of their use,” Zelensky’s office said in a press release. “Notably, bomber drones capable of carrying and dropping up to 40 kilograms of ammunition over a range of more than 15 kilometers. These drones are highly effective in destroying enemy targets, particularly logistics on the front lines and in nearby rear areas, especially at night.”
“This is the type of weapon that is currently being made in Ukraine and is most profitable to produce here, compared to anywhere else in Europe,” Zelensky said later in his nightly video address. “We are constantly making our drones more effective. There will be more investments from partners in Ukrainian drone production. This year must be a record-breaking year in terms of drone production volumes.”
Zelensky called the partnership agreement with the U.K. “a fundamentally new format of relations,” and Starmer, in a video posted on X, called the signing of the 100-year commitment “a real moment in history” promising to support Ukraine “as long as it takes.”
Last week Starmer’s government promised to send 30,000 drones in the coming year.
UKRAINE SHOOTS DOWN RUSSIAN DRONE NEARBY DURING KEIR STARMER’S VISIT
Good Friday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Christopher Tremoglie (@chriswtremo). Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow me on Threads and/or on X @jamiejmcintyre.
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MUSK ON SPACEX LOSS: ‘SUCCESS IS UNCERTAIN, BUT ENTERTAINMENT IS GUARANTEED!’ In yesterday’s test flight of its Starship rocket, SpaceX experienced the exhilaration of a spectacular recapture of its booster on the launch pad, only to witness a minute later the disappointing “rapid unscheduled disassembly” of the Starship spacecraft when its engines shut down unexpectedly.
On the social media platform X, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was taking the destruction of the spacecraft — a new, upgraded model — in stride. “Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed!” he said, posting a video of the dramatic debris from the field streaking across the pre-dusk sky.
“Preliminary indication is that we had an oxygen/fuel leak in the cavity above the ship engine firewall that was large enough to build pressure in excess of the vent capacity,” Musk said in another post. “Apart from obviously double-checking for leaks, we will add fire suppression to that volume and probably increase vent area. Nothing so far suggests pushing next launch past next month.”
The launch was intended to send the Starship, which Musk touted as “the first rocket design where success in making life multiplanetary is in the set of possible outcomes,” on a loop around the Earth where it would practice releasing 10 dummy satellites.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson weighed in on X, congratulating Musk on the successful part of the test, the amazing engineering feat of returning the massive booster rocker to its launch pad. “Spaceflight is not easy. It’s anything but routine. That’s why these tests are so important — each one bringing us closer on our path to the Moon.”
FRESH HORSES AT INTEL: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) appointed Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR) to replace Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, after insisting Turner’s ouster had nothing to do with President-elect Trump, or Turner’s handling of the committee. “It’s a new Congress. We just need fresh horses,” he said Wednesday. “This is not a President Trump decision. This is a House decision.”
“Our intelligence community and its oversight must maintain the highest levels of trust. The House Intel Committee will play a pivotal role in this work in the new Congress, and Rick Crawford will provide principled leadership as its chairman,” Johnson said while announcing Crawford’s appointment. “Outgoing Chairman Mike Turner deserves our gratitude for his leadership and critical work in the 118th Congress. He led the committee well during a very challenging period of our nation’s history and was fully dedicated to the task. He is a highly valued member of our conference, and we look forward to his continued contributions.”
“I have witnessed firsthand that abuse within our nation’s security apparatus has eroded trust in our institutions and compromised America’s ability to gather intelligence,” Crawford said in a statement. “As Chairman, I will aggressively uphold our mandate to provide credible and robust oversight of the intelligence community’s funding and activities.”
“Without aggressive oversight and vigorous protection of Americans’ Fourth Amendment rights, the IC is prone to give in to mission creep and skirt U.S. laws,” he said. “In all our work, I pledge to preserve Americans’ constitutional rights even as we work to support the IC in doing everything required to collect indispensable information from our foreign adversaries.”
HAVANA SYNDROME CONCERN PARTLY LED TO REPLACEMENT OF HOUSE INTELLIGENCE CHAIRMAN
NEW AIR FORCE SECRETARY TAPPED: In stark contrast to his first term, President-elect Trump has been moving to fill key positions in his Cabinet and senior government positions with alacrity. He announced yesterday that he’s tapped Troy Meink to be the next secretary of the Air Force.
“Troy currently serves as the Principal Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office, and began his career as a KC-135 Tanker Navigator, and later, as a test engineer for missile defense systems,” Trump said in his announcement. The NRO is part of the Defense Intelligence Agency that works closely with the Space Force.
“Troy will work with our incredible Secretary of Defense Nominee, Pete Hegseth, to ensure that our Nation’s Air Force is the most effective and deadly force in the World, as we secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH,” Trump said.
WHY REPUBLICANS RALLIED AROUND TRUMP’S ‘UNCONVENTIONAL’ DEFENSE SECRETARY PICK
THE RUNDOWN:
Washington Examiner: Hostage release delayed a day in Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal after sides ‘iron out’ final details
Washington Examiner: Israeli Right pressures Benjamin Netanyahu on ceasefire deal
Washington Examiner: Ukraine shoots down Russian drone nearby during Keir Starmer’s visit
Washington Examiner: China threat becomes theme of Trump national security confirmation hearings
Washington Examiner: Rick Crawford tapped to replace Mike Turner as House Intelligence chairman
Washington Examiner: Havana syndrome concern partly led to replacement of House Intelligence chairman
Washington Examiner: Doug Burgum says ‘energy dominance’ will be ‘America’s big stick’ on world stage
Washington Examiner: House passes bill to deport illegal immigrants with history of sex offenses
Washington Examiner: Trudeau puts ‘everything’ on the table in retaliatory response to Trump tariffs
Washington Examiner: Biden won’t enforce TikTok ban in hours before Trump is inaugurated
Washington Examiner: Nancy Pelosi to join Democrats skipping Trump inauguration
Washington Examiner: Trump inauguration forecast to be one of the coldest on record
AP: Netanyahu says deal to release hostages held in Gaza has been reached after last minute snags
AP: Biden Executive Order Aims to Shore Up US Cyber Defenses
DefenseScoop: Drones Expected to Remain a DOD Priority Under Trump, According to SecDef Nominee Hegseth
The Hill: Iraq is in for a rough 2025
AP: Trump’s pick for budget director won’t say whether he would release Ukraine aid
Kyiv Post: ‘We Need to Train Our Men’ – Russian Official Urges Mobilization Prep, Warns of War With the West by 2028
Kyiv Independent: ‘Absurd Phenomenon’—The Manpower Issue Threatening to Weaken Ukraine’s Air Force
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Trump Picks NRO’s Meink as Next Air Force Secretary
Breaking Defense: Calvelli Cautions Space Force, SDA to Focus on Program Results, Know That ‘Industry Lies’
ABC News: SpaceX Loses Spacecraft After Catching Rocket Booster During Test Flight
Defense One: Blue Origin’s Rocket Reaches Orbit on First Flight, Promising Competition for SpaceX
Defense News: On the Way Out, Biden Officials Ask: How to Fix America’s War Machine?
Task & Purpose: How California National Guard Helicopter Crews Are Fighting the LA Wildfires
Air & Space Forces Magazine: US, Korea, Japan Fly Together as Chinese Delegation Visits Japan
Air & Space Forces Magazine: SDA Director Suspended Pending Investigation
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Lockheed Certifies F-35 to Use Sustainable Fuels. Will USAF Take Advantage?
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Anduril Picks Ohio Site for ‘Arsenal’ Plant to Build CCAs and More
Militarycom: Service Members Are No Longer Banned from Displaying the American Flag Horizontally at Major Events
THE CALENDAR:
FRIDAY | JANUARY 17
8 a.m. — George Washington University Project for Media and National Security Defense Writers Group conversation with Steven Morani, acting assistant secretary of defense for sustainment RSVP: [email protected]
8 a.m. 7920 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, Virginia — Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Northern Virginia Chapter 2025 Army IT Day, with Danielle Moyer, executive director of the Army Contracting Command; Army CIO Leonel Garciga; and Steve Wallace, CTO of the Defense Information Systems Agency https://afceanova.swoogo.com/ArmyITDay2025
9 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “Righting the Ship: Strengthening U.S. Navy Shipbuilding and Ship Repair,” with Nickolas Guertin, assistant navy secretary for research, development, and acquisition; Glen Kim, director of naval affairs and strategy development, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries; Adam Beck, executive vice president of ship repair, Vigor Industrial; and Greg Little, senior counsel, Palantir Technologies https://www.hudson.org/events/righting-ship-strengthening-us-navy-shipbuilding-ship-repair-bryan-clark
12 p.m. — Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women discussion: “What to Expect from the Trump Administration,” with Sarah Bedford, investigations editor at the Washington Examiner https://web.cvent.com/event
MONDAY | JANUARY 20 | INAUGURATION DAY
TBA — Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee markup to vote on the nominations of Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) to be Homeland Security secretary; and Russell Vought to be director of the Office of Management and Budget http://www.hsgac.senate.gov
WEDNESDAY | JANUARY 29
7:15 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. — Association of the U.S. Army “Coffee Series” discussion with Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George https://www.ausa.org/events/coffee-series/gen-george