Part of the SOFREP Evening Brief roundup for Friday, May 23, 2025. (Image grab via @ZelenskyyUa/X)
As your Friday winds down, catch up with SOFREP’s evening brief, bringing you essential defense and global affairs updates for May 23, 2025. Here are tonight’s headlines: The US Army tested its new SGT STOUT air defense system in NATO drills. Ukraine’s ex-commander Zaluzhnyi said regaining the 1991 borders is unlikely. Russia and Ukraine began a major prisoner swap amid ongoing fighting. Germany deployed a permanent brigade to Lithuania to bolster NATO’s eastern flank. Pakistan blamed India for a school bus bombing; India hasn’t responded. China slammed Trump’s ban on Harvard’s international students; India seeks clarity.
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US Army Tests New SGT STOUT Air Defense System in NATO’s Formidable Shield 2025
Soldiers from the US Army’s 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (5-4 ADAR) recently deployed to Norway for NATO’s Formidable Shield 2025, where they successfully tested the Army’s newest short-range air defense platform, the SGT STOUT, in a series of live-fire engagements inside the Arctic Circle.
The SGT STOUT system, mounted on a Stryker vehicle and armed with Stinger missiles, a 30mm cannon, and onboard radar, fired its first Stingers in a NATO exercise. Soldiers engaged multiple aerial targets, including low-flying drones, in joint scenarios designed to simulate real-world threats. In one key instance, a crew dismounted and fired a Stinger manually when the vehicle system failed to lock on — demonstrating flexibility and battlefield readiness.
The exercise featured 16 warships, 27 aircraft, and eight ground units from 11 NATO and partner nations.
A SGT Stout fires a stinger missile during a live fire engagement. (US Army)
US and Norwegian SHORAD units served as the final air defense layer on Andøya Island, complementing ship-based and high-altitude interceptors. The integrated defense architecture allowed all NATO participants to share a common operating picture via data links, improving threat detection and response times.
Norwegian forces fielded their NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) and Mobile Air Defense Systems, while US Marines supported with shoulder-launched Stingers and coordinated airspace via tactical operations centers.
As your Friday winds down, catch up with SOFREP’s evening brief, bringing you essential defense and global affairs updates for May 23, 2025. Here are tonight’s headlines: The US Army tested its new SGT STOUT air defense system in NATO drills. Ukraine’s ex-commander Zaluzhnyi said regaining the 1991 borders is unlikely. Russia and Ukraine began a major prisoner swap amid ongoing fighting. Germany deployed a permanent brigade to Lithuania to bolster NATO’s eastern flank. Pakistan blamed India for a school bus bombing; India hasn’t responded. China slammed Trump’s ban on Harvard’s international students; India seeks clarity.
—
US Army Tests New SGT STOUT Air Defense System in NATO’s Formidable Shield 2025
Soldiers from the US Army’s 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (5-4 ADAR) recently deployed to Norway for NATO’s Formidable Shield 2025, where they successfully tested the Army’s newest short-range air defense platform, the SGT STOUT, in a series of live-fire engagements inside the Arctic Circle.
The SGT STOUT system, mounted on a Stryker vehicle and armed with Stinger missiles, a 30mm cannon, and onboard radar, fired its first Stingers in a NATO exercise. Soldiers engaged multiple aerial targets, including low-flying drones, in joint scenarios designed to simulate real-world threats. In one key instance, a crew dismounted and fired a Stinger manually when the vehicle system failed to lock on — demonstrating flexibility and battlefield readiness.
The exercise featured 16 warships, 27 aircraft, and eight ground units from 11 NATO and partner nations.
A SGT Stout fires a stinger missile during a live fire engagement. (US Army)
US and Norwegian SHORAD units served as the final air defense layer on Andøya Island, complementing ship-based and high-altitude interceptors. The integrated defense architecture allowed all NATO participants to share a common operating picture via data links, improving threat detection and response times.
Norwegian forces fielded their NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) and Mobile Air Defense Systems, while US Marines supported with shoulder-launched Stingers and coordinated airspace via tactical operations centers.
US leaders praised the training as critical preparation against evolving aerial threats, with Col. Hailey Bairu of the 52nd ADA Brigade calling the scale and integration unmatched. As 5-4 ADAR returns to Germany, commanders say the unit is better equipped to support NATO with mobile air defense capabilities and real-world interoperability.
Former Ukrainian Commander Zaluzhnyi: No Miracle Will Restore 1991 Borders
Valery Zaluzhnyi, the former head of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, warned Thursday that Ukraine should not expect to reclaim all its lost territory, dismissing hopes for a miraculous return to the pre-2022 or 1991 borders.
Speaking at a forum in Kyiv, Zaluzhnyi stated that Russia still retains sufficient military capability to strike and mount new offensives.
Zaluzhnyi, now Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, stressed the need for a realistic strategy focused on high-tech, resource-efficient warfare, given Ukraine’s limited economic capacity and dependence on Western support.
“We can speak only about a high-tech war of survival,” he said.
While President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to advocate for the restoration of the 1991 borders, including Crimea, he has acknowledged the necessity of diplomacy and time. Recent statements from Ukrainian officials, including Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, suggest growing acceptance that a temporary territorial concession may be necessary to secure peace.
Zaluzhnyi’s remarks follow his dismissal in February 2024 after reported disagreements with Zelenskyy. Despite his removal, he remains one of Ukraine’s most respected public figures. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy’s popularity has risen, especially after his high-profile confrontation with US President Donald Trump.
Zaluzhny:
I hope that there are no more people in the room who are hoping for a white swan that will bring peace to Ukraine, the borders of 1991 or 2022. In my personal opinion, as long as the enemy has the resources and strength to attack… pic.twitter.com/e7EKxYK7Sp
— Sprinter Observer (@SprinterObserve) May 22, 2025
Talks for a ceasefire continue to stall, as Russia presses for new terms. President Vladimir Putin recently said Moscow is drafting a memorandum to outline conditions for a potential ceasefire. In response to the impasse, the European Union has imposed new sanctions on Russia.
Russia and Ukraine Begin Major Prisoner Swap Amid Ongoing Fighting
Russia and Ukraine began a large-scale prisoner exchange on Friday, marking the most tangible outcome of last week’s US-backed peace talks in Istanbul.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that 390 Ukrainians were released in the first phase, with more exchanges expected over the weekend. Russia’s Defense Ministry said both sides released 270 military personnel and 120 civilians, with plans to continue the swap in the coming days.
The exchange took place at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border. Russia said its freed personnel were transported to Belarus for medical care. This swap includes the largest release of Ukrainian civilians so far but does not signal a pause in combat.
Повертаємо наших людей додому. Реалізовано першу частину домовленості про обмін 1000 на 1000. Ця домовленість була досягнута на зустрічі в Туреччині, і важливо реалізувати її повністю.
Сьогодні – 390 людей. Субота й неділя – очікуємо продовження обміну.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 23, 2025
Shortly after the announcement, Russia launched two ballistic missiles at Ukraine’s southern port city of Odesa, killing one and injuring eight. Fighting continues across the 1,000-kilometer front, with neither side easing battlefield operations.
US President Donald Trump confirmed the exchange and hinted it could lead to further diplomatic progress, while Turkish officials described the swap as a “confidence-building measure.” However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said no agreement has been made for future peace talks.
The Istanbul meeting exposed deep divides: Russia demanded Ukrainian troop withdrawals from annexed territories and a halt to Western arms shipments, while Ukraine and its allies insist on a ceasefire first. Zelenskyy called Moscow’s new demands “unrealistic” and warned they signal Russia’s intent to prolong the war.
NEW: Putin is fostering the formation of an informal state ideology based on Russian nationalism that positions Russia in opposition to the West as part of ongoing efforts to militarize and unify Russian society.
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) May 22, 2025
Meanwhile, drone warfare escalated. Russia claimed to have shot down 788 Ukrainian drones between May 20–23, while Ukraine reported 175 Shahed drones and a ballistic missile launched by Russian forces in the same period.
Germany Establishes Permanent Brigade in Lithuania, Vows to Defend NATO’s Eastern Flank
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared Thursday that Germany and its NATO allies are fully committed to defending every inch of alliance territory, during a military ceremony in Vilnius to mark the deployment of a German brigade in Lithuania.
The move reinforces NATO’s eastern flank in response to Russia’s aggression and aligns with US President Donald Trump’s calls for Europe to invest more in its own defense.
The new 45th Armoured Brigade will be based in Rudninkai, near the Lithuanian capital, and will include 4,800 troops and 2,000 vehicles—including tanks—when fully operational by the end of 2027. Germany has already deployed 400 personnel to begin establishing the unit.
“Protecting Vilnius is protecting Berlin,” Merz said, emphasizing Germany’s commitment to its Baltic ally.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda also warned of ongoing Russian and Belarusian military exercises near the border.
The Suwalki Gap, a narrow corridor linking the Baltic states to the rest of NATO, remains one of the alliance’s most vulnerable points. Lithuania plans to raise defense spending to over 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) next year, partly to fund infrastructure for the German brigade.
In Lithuania we are taking the defence of NATO’s eastern flank into our own hands:
Together, Lithuanians and Germans show that we are ready to defend Europe’s freedom against any aggressor.
Germany stands by its responsibility. Today. Tomorrow. For as long as it takes. pic.twitter.com/mceeVAj0d7
— Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (@bundeskanzler) May 22, 2025
Merz reiterated that Russia poses a continued threat to European peace through military aggression and hybrid warfare tactics, including cyberattacks and espionage. He vowed to fully modernize the Bundeswehr, aiming to make it Europe’s strongest conventional army.
German defense spending rose to 2.12% of GDP last year, with further increases expected. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul echoed support for Trump’s 5% NATO defense spending goal.
Pakistan Blames India for Deadly School Bus Bombing in Balochistan
The death toll from a school bus bombing in Khuzdar, southwestern Pakistan, rose to eight on Friday after three critically injured children succumbed to their wounds, the Pakistani military confirmed.
The blast, which occurred Wednesday, wounded 53 people, including 39 children en route to an Army Public School. Two soldiers were among the dead.
Military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif accused India of supporting the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which he said carried out the attack. The BLA has waged a separatist insurgency in Balochistan for decades and was designated a terrorist group by the US in 2019.
Sharif claimed Pakistan has evidence of Indian involvement but has not publicly presented any proof. India has not responded to the accusations.
No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing. The incident follows a recent four-day border clash between India and Pakistan earlier this month that ended in a ceasefire, highlighting ongoing regional tensions.
China Slams Trump Ban on Harvard’s International Students; India, Students Await Clarity
China criticized the Trump administration’s move to bar international students from Harvard University, warning Friday that it would damage America’s global reputation and deter foreign enrollment.
The announcement, made Thursday, sparked concern among international students and their families, particularly in China and India, which represent the two largest international student populations at Harvard.
In 2024, Harvard hosted 6,703 international students, including 1,203 from China and 788 from India.
Beijing’s Foreign Ministry condemned the move as politicizing educational cooperation and said it would protect Chinese students’ rights abroad, though it gave no specifics.
Chinese state media questioned whether the US remained a viable destination for foreign study, citing ongoing litigation by Harvard and widespread policy uncertainty. Indian officials are reviewing the order’s impact but have not issued public criticism.
Sources: News Agencies
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