Decoding the Kremlin: Ukrainian Analysts Interpret Putin’s Strategic Intent

The Ukraine Compass provides a weekly compilation of Ukrainian commentary and analysis spanning the entire political spectrum, exclusively for War on the Rocks members. Each Monday, we present a curated selection of articles from Ukrainian media that offer insight into how Ukrainians themselves debate the issues shaping their nation. American coverage often narrows the view to the battlefield—our pieces widen it, revealing the texture of daily life, politics, and public discourse in a nation at war. The perspectives gathered here are varied, candid, and often surprising, together forming a more complete picture of Ukraine as it truly is.

Frontline and Strategy
Fokus (“Focus”)
National weekly magazine with a patriotic voice
“Supersonic Alliance: How the Moscow-Tehran Axis is Becoming a Strategic Threat to Ukraine”
By Dmytro Snegiryov / Sept. 8, 2026
Military expert Dmytro Snegiryov details the secret C430L program through which Russia is transferring supersonic cruise missile technology, specifically direct-flow air-jet engines, to Iran, per Financial Times reporting on leaked correspondence. Facilitated by Rosoboronexport and NPO Mashinostroyeniya, this cooperation extends a broader alliance: Iran supplies Shahed drones and reverse-engineered X-55-derived missiles, while Russia provides satellite imagery and weapons components. The author warns this technology-sharing could eventually strengthen weapons used against Ukraine, and that synchronized Russian-Iranian aggression strains shared U.S. interceptor stockpiles, diverting American resources and attention away from Ukraine’s defense.

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