Russia Reportedly Resupplying Iran
Russia is transporting ammunition, drone components, explosives, and parts associated with missiles to Iran through the Caspian Sea, according to an Aug. 17 NBC News report citing a European government document and an unnamed Western official who verified it.
The shipments are intended to replenish Iranian weapons stockpiles following U.S. and Israeli strikes, the report said. More than two dozen Russian vessels reportedly traveled to Iran’s port of Amirabad, though the quantities and value of the cargo remain unclear.
The Kremlin has rejected allegations that it is supplying Iran, characterizing such reports as “fake news.”
Ships and Cargo
The reported deliveries include small-arms ammunition, drone components and TNT, as well as components related to missiles and other explosives. Many of the vessels involved are under U.S. or European sanctions, according to the report.
The ships were allegedly owned by MG-FLOT, a maritime company placed under Western sanctions in 2024. The Caspian Sea provides a direct maritime route between Russia and Iran that does not require passage through third-country waters.
Jim Lamson, a former CIA analyst, told NBC News that Iran’s reported procurement of drone parts and ammunition could indicate that U.S. and Israeli strikes damaged its domestic production capacity.
“Iran’s procurement of drone components and small arms ammunition from Russia strongly suggests that Israeli and US military strikes on Iran’s facilities that produce these items have degraded Iran’s domestic capability to produce them,” Lamson said.
Ukrainian Strike in the Caspian Sea
Ukraine’s Security Service, or SBU, said Ukrainian forces struck an Iranian ship on July 25 while it was transporting military cargo between Iran and Russia in the Caspian Sea.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry disputed that characterization, saying the target was a commercial vessel. Tehran reported that one sailor was killed and another injured, and described the strike as “an act of aggression that could further inflame and expand the flames of war.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha held what he called a “frank conversation” with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on July 28, following Tehran’s condemnation of the attack.
Expanding Military Cooperation
Russia and Iran have strengthened military cooperation as Moscow faces international isolation over its war against Ukraine. Iran has supplied Russia with military equipment and drones, including the Iranian-designed Shahed platform.
Russia has since developed modified Shahed-type attack drones and regularly uses large numbers of them in strikes against Ukraine, including attacks affecting civilian areas. The reported flow of equipment to Iran would represent support moving in the opposite direction after years of Iranian assistance to Russia.
Russia has also been accused of providing Iran with upgraded drones and other assistance intended to improve Tehran’s ability to strike U.S. targets. Moscow denies those claims.
U.S. Response
President Donald Trump has downplayed reports of Russian support for Iran. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin had assured him that Moscow was not selling weapons to Tehran.
Trump also said any Russian assistance had been “very unimpactful” after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of sharing satellite imagery of U.S. bases with Iran. No independently confirmed total for the reported Russian shipments has been disclosed.

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Springfield Adds 3.5-Inch Prodigy
Springfield Armory announced the 1911 DS Prodigy 3.5” AOS 9mm on August 18, 2026. The new double-stack pistol uses the shortest barrel and slide assembly offered in the Prodigy series while retaining a full-length grip module and optics-ready configuration.
The standard-capacity model holds 18+1 rounds and includes two 18-round magazines. Springfield also lists a low-capacity version for jurisdictions with magazine restrictions. Both configurations carry an MSRP of $1,582.
The standard model is SKU PH9114AOS, while the low-capacity version is PH9114AOSLC. The source material does not specify the reduced magazine capacity.
Optics and Controls
The pistol uses Springfield’s Agency Optic System, or AOS, which relies on interchangeable plates to support multiple optic footprints. Each pistol includes an AOS cover plate and a Docter/Noblex-footprint AOS plate. Buyers also receive a coupon allowing the purchase of another AOS plate of their choice for $49.
For use without an optic, the Prodigy is equipped with a tritium front sight and black serrated rear sight. Other features include an ambidextrous manual safety and a Picatinny accessory rail.
Springfield shortened the beavertail and recontoured the hammer to complement the compact slide assembly. The recoil system uses a captured guide rod.
Barrel, Slide and Frame
The 3.5-inch match-grade bull barrel is forged from stainless steel and finished in black diamond-like carbon. It has a 1:16-inch twist rate.
The optics-ready slide is forged carbon steel with a black Cerakote finish. The frame is machined from billet 7075-T6 aluminum, hardcoat anodized and also finished in black Cerakote. Polymer grips complete the full-length grip module.
This combination keeps the firing assembly compact without shortening the grip or reducing the standard model’s 18-round magazine capacity.
Dimensions and Specifications
Chambered in 9mm, the Prodigy measures 7 inches long and 5.5 inches high. It weighs 29.3 ounces. The pistol’s listed color is black.
Key specifications include:
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.5-inch forged stainless-steel bull barrel
Barrel finish: Black DLC
Twist rate: 1:16 inches
Slide: Forged carbon steel, optics-ready
Frame: Billet 7075-T6 aluminum
Recoil system: Captured guide rod
Sights: Tritium front, black serrated rear
Standard magazines: Two 18-round magazines
Standard capacity: 18+1
Weight: 29.3 ounces
Length: 7 inches
Height: 5.5 inches
MSRP: $1,582
Included Equipment
Each pistol ships with a soft-sided, double-zipper handgun case. The case is intended to accommodate the firearm with mounted accessories and includes an interior pouch for an additional magazine.
The package also contains the two magazines, AOS cover plate, Docter/Noblex AOS plate, and the discounted-plate coupon. Springfield lists the pistol under UPC 706397000639.

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Benelli Introduces the M2-G1
Benelli has announced the M2-G1, a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun intended for tactical, home-defense, and competition use. The series introduces the company’s Rear Piston Operated gas system and adds an enlarged loading port, extended controls and several stock and capacity configurations.
Five right-handed models are listed as new through Benelli’s dealer and online purchasing pages. All have 18.5-inch barrels and chambers compatible with 2¾- and 3-inch shells. No release date was provided.
Models and Pricing
The detailed model listings show prices from $1,949 to $2,149:
11610: Standard stock and grip, 18.5" barrel, 5+1 capacity, anodized gray receiver and matte blued barrel; $1,949.
11611: Standard stock and grip, 18.5" barrel, 7+1 capacity, anodized gray receiver and matte blued barrel; $1,949.
11612: Five-position telescoping stock, 18.5" barrel, pistol grip, 7+1 capacity, anodized gray receiver and matte blued barrel; $2,049.
11617: Five-position stock, pistol grip, 18.5" barrel, 7+1 capacity, and Flat Dark Earth Cerakote receiver and barrel; $2,149.
11622: Five-position stock, pistol grip, 18.5" barrel, 7+1 capacity, and MultiCam Black receiver and barrel; $2,149.
Specifications and prices are subject to change.
Rear-Piston Gas System
The M2-G1’s principal mechanical change is its Rear Piston Operated, or R.P.O., gas system. It uses dual short-stroke pistons positioned near the chamber, where gas is collected, while the recoil system is mounted in the stock.
Benelli says this layout reduces the pistons’ exposure to fouling compared with forward-mounted designs, supporting cleaner operation, simplified maintenance and sustained reliability. The company positions R.P.O. as a separate system from the A.R.G.O. gas operation used in the Benelli M4.
Controls, Loading and Sights
An enlarged, beveled loading port and ramped trigger guard are intended to improve loading speed and efficiency. Enlarged controls are designed for easier manipulation under pressure or while wearing gloves.
Every listed model includes ghost-ring sights, a Picatinny rail, and a receiver that is drilled and tapped for optics. The bolt has a Parkerized finish for corrosion resistance, while M-LOK slots on the forend provide accessory mounting points. Quick-detach sling mounting positions are also included.
Telescoping-stock models provide five length-of-pull settings spanning 9.25 to 14 inches. Their pistol grip is intended to provide additional control, and all three carry seven shells in the magazine plus one in the chamber.
Dimensions and Warranty
Standard-stock models measure 38.5 inches overall with a 13-inch length of pull. Model 11610 weighs an average of 7.4 pounds, while the higher-capacity 11611 weighs 7.6 pounds.
The telescoping-stock models measure 39.5 inches overall and weigh an average of 8 pounds. Their listed drop is 2.25 inches at the heel and 1.375 inches at the comb; standard-stock versions have a 2.5-inch heel drop and 1.75-inch comb drop.
The M2-G1 is covered by Benelli’s 10-year limited warranty against defects in metal parts resulting from materials or workmanship, beginning on the original purchase date.

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The departure of the USS George Washington from the western Pacific has generated a wave of competing headlines, with some portraying the move as evidence that the United States is abandoning Asia while others dismiss the development as little more than a routine carrier rotation.
Neither description tells the full story.
The United States is indeed moving its only forward-deployed aircraft carrier in Japan toward the Middle East, temporarily leaving the western Pacific without a U.S. carrier on station. The move is unusual enough to matter, particularly at a time of heightened tensions with China, but it does not leave the Indo-Pacific undefended or fundamentally change the regional military balance.
What it does reveal is something more practical: the continuing U.S.–Iran war is consuming enough naval capacity that the Navy is being forced to draw on forces normally assigned to one of Washington's highest-priority strategic regions.
That makes the current carrier gap less a story about an immediate Chinese opportunity and more a story about fleet availability, endurance, and the difficulty of sustaining major military commitments in multiple theaters at once.
George Washington Heads Toward Middle East
USS George Washington, the only U.S. aircraft carrier permanently forward-deployed to Japan, is moving toward the Middle East, temporarily leaving the western Pacific without a U.S. carrier on station.
The carrier departed Yokosuka in May for its 2026 patrol and operated across the western Pacific, including the South China Sea on July 22 and 23. After leaving Da Nang, Vietnam, George Washington, the cruiser USS Robert Smalls and destroyer USS Shoup passed through the Singapore Strait and entered the Strait of Malacca by August 13.
The strike group is expected to replace USS Abraham Lincoln, which has supported U.S. operations against Iran since January. The move reduces the Navy’s most visible form of forward presence in the Pacific but does not leave the region undefended.
Extended Deployment Drives Relief
Abraham Lincoln left San Diego on November 21, 2025, and was originally expected home in May. Its deployment was extended because of the U.S.–Iran war.
By August 13, the carrier had been deployed for about 265 days and spent more than 240 consecutive days at sea, exceeding the previous modern record of 206 uninterrupted days set by USS Dwight D. Eisenhower during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lincoln reportedly had not made a port call since visiting Guam in December.
Sailors’ families have raised concerns about mental health, supplies and shipboard conditions. The Navy said it had not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts, while acknowledging the effects of extended deployments on personnel and families. Disruptions at traditional Middle Eastern supply hubs have also required commanders to prioritize food, hygiene supplies and mail.
George Washington’s movement provides relief for Lincoln, its air wing, escorts, and crew, which require maintenance, training resets, and personnel recovery after the extended deployment.
Carrier Inventory Versus Availability
Although the United States operates 11 aircraft carriers, only two or three are normally deployed at a time. The remainder may be in maintenance, shipyard work, training, certification, crew recovery, or pre-deployment preparation.
USS Gerald R. Ford returned to Norfolk on May 16 after a 326-day deployment covering more than 57,000 nautical miles, making an immediate return unlikely. USS George H.W. Bush is already operating in the Arabian Sea alongside Lincoln.
USS Theodore Roosevelt remains in California while preparing for a possible deployment. It was in San Diego as recently as August 8 for a friends-and-family cruise. A future Roosevelt deployment could allow George Washington to return to the Pacific sooner.
Indo-Pacific Forces Remain in Place
The carrier gap does not amount to a U.S. withdrawal from Asia. American forces in the region include surface ships, submarines, land-based aircraft, Marines, Army units, special operations forces and logistics infrastructure. Major bases remain in Japan, Guam, South Korea, Hawaii and elsewhere, supported by treaty allies including Japan, South Korea, Australia and the Philippines.
U.S. forces also continue regional exercises and operations with Brunei, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines and partners operating from Guam.
A carrier nonetheless provides a distinctive capability: a mobile airbase with combat aircraft, escorts, sensors, missiles, helicopters, electronic-warfare systems and command assets. Its visibility also supports deterrence and signaling around Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines and the South China Sea.
Readiness and Maintenance Pressures
Temporary Pacific carrier gaps have occurred before. During the 2015 transition between George Washington and USS Ronald Reagan, George Washington left Japan in May, and Reagan did not arrive in Yokosuka until October 2. In 2018, the Navy also experienced a 22-day period without a fully certified carrier strike group deployed and available for national tasking under one assessment.
The current gap is notable because it results from an ongoing war rather than a planned homeport transition or routine maintenance. Ford has returned from a lengthy deployment, Lincoln has remained at sea beyond schedule, Bush is in the Middle East, and George Washington is being redirected from the Pacific.
Extended operations can create later maintenance and readiness costs for carriers, aircraft, escorts, and crews. The gap’s significance will depend largely on its duration and whether another carrier can relieve George Washington, allowing it to resume western Pacific operations.

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Russia reports more than 800 drones intercepted
Russia said its forces shot down or neutralized more than 800 Ukrainian drones overnight Sunday in what appeared to be one of Kyiv’s largest aerial attacks of the conflict. Russian authorities reported at least six deaths.
The Russian Defense Ministry said drones were intercepted across 17 regions, primarily in western and southern Russia. State-run news agency TASS described the operation as the largest Ukrainian drone attack since the beginning of the year.
Moscow region Governor Andrey Vorobiev said air defenses and electronic warfare units stopped 187 drones. An 83-year-old man was killed elsewhere in the region, while Rostov regional authorities reported five deaths.
Warehouses and industrial sites targeted
Geolocated footage showed a large fire at a 250,000-square-meter Wildberries warehouse in the Moscow region. Vorobiev said no one was injured there.
Ukraine says Wildberries, a major Russian online retailer, handles supplies for the Russian military. The Ukrainian military claimed it has struck seven of the company’s 10 largest logistics centers. Wildberries recently announced plans to build new warehouse capacity in neighboring Kazakhstan.
Ukraine’s military also said the Rostov attack struck a defense industry facility that produces solid rocket propellant for Russian weapons. The extent of damage was not independently detailed.
Russian strikes hit Ukrainian cities
Russia continued its own aerial attacks, targeting Kyiv with missiles and drones early Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said six people were wounded and that a book market was among the locations hit.
Ballistic missiles also struck Kremenchuk and Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine, according to Zelensky. He reported two deaths in Kryvyi Rih and one in the northern city of Sumy. Steel producer ArcelorMittal said one employee was killed and 13 were injured at its Kryvyi Rih factory, with rescue and search operations continuing.
Ukraine’s Air Force said it did not intercept any of the ballistic missiles launched overnight. Zelensky said Russia had fired more than 1,550 attack drones, nearly 1,560 guided aerial bombs and 62 missiles at Ukraine during the preceding week.
British drones reportedly used in deep strikes
Ukraine has used British-made drones for strikes deep inside Russia during the past six months, the Times reported on Aug. 15, citing Ukrainian military sources.
The weapons reportedly include BAE Systems’ jet-powered Nyan drone, previously tested by the British Royal Navy, and another British drone whose manufacturer was withheld for security reasons. Most Ukrainian deep-strike missions still use domestically produced systems.
According to the report, British drones have hit oil refineries near Moscow and in Yaroslavl and Volgograd, while the Nyan has also been used against Belgorod. Unnamed sources told the Times that Russia could respond by expanding cyberattacks, espionage and other hybrid activity against the United Kingdom.
Ukraine claims strikes in occupied territories
The Ukrainian Navy said it struck a Russian Bastion coastal defense missile system in occupied Crimea overnight on Aug. 16, hitting its launch positions and deployment site. Kyiv reported losses of Russian personnel and equipment but said the full damage was still being assessed.
Russia uses Bastion systems to launch Onyx supersonic and Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles. Ukraine’s General Staff also reported strikes on a railway bridge near Svitlodolynske in partially occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast and on logistics facilities and ammunition depots in occupied Karlivka, Donetsk Oblast.
Drone intercepted over Romania
Romania’s Defense Ministry said an unidentified drone entering from Moldova was shot down Sunday by a Spanish F-18 operating on a NATO air-policing mission. Debris appeared to fall in an uninhabited area between two villages.
The ministry said it was the fourth drone downed over Romania this year. Romanian F-16 pilots shot down three Russian drones in July after repeated airspace incursions during the war.

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George Washington to Relieve Lincoln
The U.S. Navy plans to send the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the Middle East to replace USS Abraham Lincoln after its extended deployment, according to a WSJ report. The move is described as a scheduled rotation, with George Washington reportedly set to deploy to the region in August 2026.
George Washington has been operating in the South China Sea and is forward-deployed at Yokosuka, Japan. A specific arrival date in the Middle East has not been announced.
Lincoln’s Extended Deployment
Abraham Lincoln left San Diego in November and has remained at sea for nearly nine months, or more than 250 days. It has spent most of that period in the Middle East supporting U.S. military operations against Iran, including combat operations, and has not made a port call since December.
Family members of crew members have raised concerns about the effects of the prolonged operational tempo, limited opportunities for rest, and reported quality-of-life problems aboard the ship.
Morale and Mental Health Concerns
Relatives have reported food shortages, deteriorating morale and growing concern about the crew’s mental health. Families also told Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao that the strain could increase the risk of sailors harming themselves.
Military Times and Stars and Stripes have reported incidents in which sailors attempted to jump overboard during the deployment. Separate reporting in April raised questions about the quality and quantity of food aboard Abraham Lincoln and the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, which was also deployed to the Middle East at the time.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle denied the food reporting. Defense officials have also disputed accounts describing worsening morale and mental health aboard Lincoln.
Navy and Central Command Response
Navy officials said they have “not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts” aboard Abraham Lincoln. U.S. Central Command said no service members aboard the carrier had died and that a sailor who fell overboard on Aug. 3 was quickly recovered.
Central Command also cited an 84.4% crew reenlistment rate, describing it as among the highest for U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. The command’s statement did not alter the planned rotation or provide a timeline for Lincoln’s return.
George Washington’s Capabilities
USS George Washington, CVN-73, is the sixth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and the fourth U.S. Navy ship named for the first U.S. president. Commissioned on July 4, 1992, it is 1,092 feet long, can exceed 30 knots, and can carry approximately 90 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
The carrier is powered by two Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors and has a crew capacity of roughly 6,000 when its air wing is embarked. Its defensive systems include Sea Sparrow missiles, Rolling Airframe Missiles, and Phalanx close-in weapon systems.
George Washington became the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier forward-deployed to Yokosuka in 2008. It entered a Refueling and Complex Overhaul in August 2017 and was returned to the Navy in May 2023. After replacing USS Ronald Reagan in Japan, it arrived at its current Yokosuka home port in November 2024.

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White House Opens Path to Foreign-Built Navy Ships
President Donald Trump has directed the United States to consider building limited numbers of Navy ships in foreign shipyards, provided the builders commit to shifting subsequent production to the United States.
The National Security Presidential Memorandum expands the “Finland model” used for the Coast Guard’s Arctic Security Cutters, under which initial vessels are built in Finland, and later ships are constructed domestically. Foreign companies could build up to two ships in each of three classes at their parent shipyards before transferring follow-on work to US facilities.
Eligible classes include surface combatants capable of anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare and convoy escort; Consolidated Cargo Replenishment at Sea tankers; and roll-on, roll-off vessels.
Congressional Approval Remains Uncertain
The administration had already asked Congress to authorize four foreign-built vessels through the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. It also requested $1.85 billion in reconciliation funding to study foreign construction and potentially purchase an initial vessel from Japan or South Korea.
Congress has proposed restrictions. The House-passed NDAA bars foreign shipyards from constructing warships or combat logistics vessels. The Senate Armed Services Committee’s version also restricts overseas warship construction but permits up to two foreign-built auxiliary ships if their builders invest in the US maritime industrial base for later production.
The White House Office of Management and Budget said the House prohibition would limit the government’s ability to use specialized foreign technology and attract investment into domestic shipyards. Senate Democrats have prevented their chamber’s bill from reaching the floor, citing concerns about defense spending and the conflict with Iran.
US law generally limits construction of armed-forces vessels in foreign yards. A national security waiver could be used, as it was for the icebreaker agreements with Finland.
Design and Systems Integration
Analysts said foreign ships would need to be designed from the outset for US weapons, survivability standards, redundancy requirements and communications systems. Retrofitting those capabilities after construction could create delays and integration problems.
Allied ships already operate with US carrier strike groups, but their connections are not always seamless. Some NATO vessels lack networks such as Cooperative Engagement Capability, which shares missile-defense targeting data. Compatible networks and datalinks could be added, but combat-system differences would be more difficult to resolve.
Spanish, South Korean and Japanese ships use versions of Aegis, though their configurations differ from those aboard US ships. Undersea-warfare systems may also be entirely different. The Navy would additionally have to incorporate foreign hull, mechanical and electrical components into its logistics network.
Testing, Maintenance and Fleet Operations
Foreign-built ships would face decisions over US post-delivery testing and certification, including shock-resistance requirements. Because overseas yards may use different technical standards, the Navy, administration, and Congress would have to determine which US requirements to retain or revise.
Similar design adaptation complicated the Constellation-class frigate program, which was based on an Italian Fincantieri design. Fincantieri Marinette Marine received the initial contract in 2020, but the Navy said in December 2025 that it would end the program after accepting the two ships already under construction following delays, cost increases and design changes.
A class limited to two or three vessels could require costly, unique training, maintenance and spare-parts systems. Analysts recommended securing critical parts in advance. Foreign designs may offer maintainability benefits, but some are built around lower operating rates than the US Navy’s 36-month cycle, under which ships can spend about half their time at sea.

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Carrier Systems Ordered Back to Steam
President Donald Trump has signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum directing the Navy to return to steam-powered aircraft catapults and hydraulic aircraft elevators on Ford-class carriers. The order also calls for a fifth public shipyard and a new component repair center intended to reduce submarine maintenance delays.
The carrier provisions apply to ships such as the future Doris Miller, now under construction at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding. They would replace the class’s Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, or EMALS, with traditional steam catapults and use elevator hydraulics similar to those aboard Nimitz-class carriers.
The USS Ford, the first ship in its class, currently uses EMALS to launch aircraft. Trump previewed the policy aboard the aircraft carrier George Washington in October, saying future carriers would use “steam for the catapults” and “hydraulic for the elevators.”
Cost and Schedule Concerns
General Atomics, which builds EMALS, said changing the Doris Miller’s launch system warrants reconsideration because production is nearly halfway complete.
“With nearly 50% of production complete, changing course now would introduce significant cost, schedule, and integration risks,” the company said. It also warned of broader effects on carrier readiness, technological capabilities, workforce stability and the supplier base.
Bryan Clark, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, said Ford-class carriers use electricity for functions that relied on steam aboard earlier classes, including cooking, heating and water purification, as well as catapults and arresting gear.
Restoring steam lines for the catapults would therefore require an extensive redesign, Clark said. He also noted that the Navy has not purchased a steam catapult in more than 20 years, meaning suppliers may need substantial investment and time to restart production.
Fifth Public Shipyard Proposal
The memorandum directs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to submit a carrier and submarine readiness plan within 120 days. The proposal must examine expanded use of the private sector and the establishment of an additional public shipyard.
The fifth yard plan must provide enough drydock capacity to support projected growth in the fast-attack submarine fleet over the next two decades. Potential locations are to be near the U.S. Pacific Fleet and may include the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. territories.
Site options must consider as many as three new drydocks capable of accommodating every current and projected submarine class. The report must also address construction schedules, resource requirements, and financing options, including public-private partnerships.
Existing Maintenance Network
The United States currently operates four public shipyards in Virginia, Maine, Washington, and Hawaii. Although private yards also maintain military vessels, the public facilities typically conduct major overhauls and modernization work on the Navy’s nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.
Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought said in June that the administration was “pushing hard for an additional public shipyard” to support a growing fleet. He said private maintenance contracts would continue, but argued that sufficient public capacity was necessary to operate at scale.
Workforce and Repair Capacity
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle said in April that the Navy had been examining a fifth public shipyard, while cautioning that construction alone would not resolve maintenance constraints.
“A new yard is expensive, and so is that infrastructure worth it if I can’t get the workforce there?” Caudle said, pointing to questions about recruiting and sustaining enough personnel to operate another facility.
The memorandum’s separate component repair center is also intended to address submarine repair delays, though further details about its location, cost, and timeline were not provided.

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WHO Warehouse Destroyed in Dnipro
A World Health Organization warehouse in Dnipro was destroyed during a Russian attack on Aug. 7, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed on Aug. 9.
The facility in Ukraine’s fourth-largest city stored emergency medical supplies intended for hospitals and communities near the front line. The destruction sent much of the remaining stock up in smoke.
No information about casualties was provided.
Staff Evacuated Part of Aid Stock
WHO personnel evacuated 130 of approximately 300 pallets of humanitarian aid before the warehouse was struck. The status of the evacuated supplies was not specified.
Ukraine’s Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said the attack affected essential medicines meant for hospitals and people living closest to active fighting.
“This is a blow to essential medicines intended for hospitals and people closest to the front line,” Lubinets wrote on Telegram. He described the strike as a “cynical” attack intended to deprive vulnerable people of lifesaving resources.
WHO Calls for Protection of Health Care
Ghebreyesus condemned attacks on medical facilities and supplies, emphasizing that health care remains protected under the rules of war.
“I cannot say loudly enough: attacks on health care MUST STOP,” he wrote on X. “Even wars have rules. One of those is that health must be protected.”
Although WHO confirmed that the warehouse was destroyed during the Russian attack, Ghebreyesus did not identify Russia by name in his statement.
Previous Attacks on Humanitarian Operations
The Dnipro strike follows other attacks affecting United Nations humanitarian work in Ukraine. In May, a UN convoy delivering supplies to civilians in Kherson Oblast was severely damaged in two Russian drone strikes.
WHO has also documented heightened risks faced by ambulance drivers and health transport personnel during Russia’s full-scale war. These workers operate along routes and in communities regularly exposed to attacks.
On July 30, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs explicitly identified Russia when condemning an attack on Ukrainian civilian targets. An EU diplomat said colleagues in Brussels were considering whether that approach could signal a change in how UN organizations publicly attribute such incidents.
Investigations Into Alleged Crimes
Ukrainian authorities continue to investigate alleged violations of international law committed during the war. According to a European Commission webpage last updated in May 2026, Ukraine is investigating more than 200,000 incidents of alleged international crimes.
The commission said the actual number of potential atrocities is believed to be higher. Russian forces have been accused of repeated attacks on civilian targets and numerous war crimes in Ukraine.

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