"Game Changers" in Ukraine (2025) - Evaluating Effective, Disappointing and Weird Systems

Video Description

Sponsored by Ground News: Compare news coverage. Spot media bias. Avoid algorithms. Try Ground News today and get 40% off your subscription by going to https://ground.news/perun Given the pace of technical and tactical adaptation in Ukraine, there's a pretty constant stream of weapons or other systems that are talked up as the next big potential "game changer." Some of those systems go on to make a difference, others...don't. So roughly once I year I like to look at a collection of things that attracted hype and evaluate how they have actually performed so far and today, it's time for the 2025 edition - covering everything from Oreshnik and interceptors, to shotguns, turtle tanks, and Ukraine's innovative Sky Fortress and Zvook sensors. Previous "Game Changer" Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z630Rt1mTs - 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaWVrphbHXI - 2024 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/PerunAU Reading and Sourcing: General James B. Hecker - Air Superiority - A Renewed Vision https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/AEtherJournal/Journals/Volume-3_Number-2/Hecker.pdf Air Defence Artillery Journal, Colonel Jeremey M. Davis - Mobility Matters: Innovating for Area Air Defense https://www.lineofdeparture.army.mil/Portals/144/PDF/Journals/Air-Defense-Artillery/Mobile-UA.pdf Reporting on Zvook and Sky Guardian https://www.twz.com/air/ukraines-acoustic-drone-detection-network-eyed-by-u-s-as-low-cost-air-defense-option https://www.zvook.tech/en https://global.espreso.tv/zvook-project-ukrainian-know-how-for-detecting-air-targets Reporting on Oreshnik https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-23/ukraine-war-new-russian-missile-oreshnik-travelled-mach-11/104638254 https://jamestown.org/program/the-kremlin-threatens-european-countries-could-be-oreshniks-next-target/ https://tass.com/politics/1997149 https://tass.com/politics/1997133 Fiber Optic Drones https://united24media.com/latest-news/ukraine-begins-mass-production-of-30-kilometer-fiber-optic-drone-reel-8032 Hrim & Flamingo https://www.twz.com/air/ukraine-says-it-has-tested-a-new-domestically-designed-ballistic-missile https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/22/ukraine-war-briefing-zelenskyy-reveals-huge-flamingo-cruise-missile-as-no-peace-in-sight Zapad Exercises footage & reporting https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/idRW468913092025RP1/?chan=aoiq7v2k 50km cables https://x.com/TheDeadDistrict/status/1973792097548546054 Benelli M4-AI-Drongg Guarian https://www.benellidefense.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Brochure-M4-AI-Drone-Guardian.pdf UMPK-PD https://united24media.com/latest-news/russia-has-quietly-upgraded-its-glide-bomb-kits-heres-how-8836 Featured article including anti-drone net rounds https://militarnyi.com/en/news/ukrainian-sof-analyzes-russia-s-use-of-shotguns-to-protect-against-fpv-drones/ Glide bomb mapping (by @clement_molin) https://x.com/clement_molin/status/1955602520698675334v Caveats & Comments: All normal caveats and comments apply. In particular – I note that this material has been created for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be a complete examination of the topic and should not be relied upon to inform financial or other any other views and/or decisions. Any content relating to the conduct, views, activities or any aspect of any person or character in this video is included for entertainment purposes and does not represent an assertion of fact on those matters or any matters in relation to that person or character. Care has been taken in compiling data, quotes, and other inputs from various sources but errors can occur. Quotes and included data should be considered illustrative, not definitive and their veracity should not be relied on. Timestamps: 00:00:00 — Opening Words 00:00:44 — What Am I Talking About? 00:02:32 — Defining Our "Game Changers" 00:05:04 — Glide Bombs 00:16:25 — Oreshnik 00:21:18 — Flamingo & Hrim 00:22:43 — the Drones & Defences 00:28:31 — Stopping the Drones 00:57:14 — Honourable Mentions 00:59:21 — Channel Update