Editor’s note: Dr Afshar Soleymani is a former Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan, as well as an analyst and researcher in political and international relations. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of News.Az.

The Russia-Ukraine war has entered a prolonged and complex phase characterized by attritional warfare, strategic adaptation, and geopolitical recalibration.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly acknowledged that Ukraine currently holds a technological advantage in the use of heavy combat drones, a rare admission that highlights growing pressure on Moscow’s military amid the ongoing war.

Pakistan and Indonesia have successfully wrapped up the joint military exercise Shaheen Strike-II, which took place from November 8 to 19, 2025, with a specific focus on strengthening counter-terrorism (CT) capabilities, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

China’s military is rapidly adopting DeepSeek AI and Huawei chips to enhance drones, vehicles, and battlefield planning, as U.S. export bans push Beijing to rely on domestic technology.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed proposals to establish a buffer zone between Ukrainian and Russian forces as part of a peace agreement, stating that such a measure does not align with the realities of modern warfare.

Russia’s top brass has accused the United States of expanding its biological warfare presence in Africa.

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has compiled a list of key targets for a coordinated electronic attack against US aircraft carrier strike groups.