In Ukraine, Kelly Warns of Growing Disinformation Threat and Reaffirms American Alliances Critical to National Security

Kelly observed a Ukrainian Navy demonstration of the V-BAT drone

Kelly also travelled to Moldova and met with Moldovan President Sandu and senior officials

Kelly met with the Marine Security Guard detachment at the U.S. Embassy in Chișinău

Over the weekend, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly made his fourth trip to Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. While there, he participated in discussions and delivered remarks at the 2026 Black Sea Security Forum in Odesa, warning that the nature of modern conflict has fundamentally shifted with disinformation posing a serious threat to democracies.

Kelly opened with how Russia's war in Ukraine has global implications for the future of warfare: "The lessons emerging from Ukraine are larger than Ukraine itself. We need to recognize that periods of strategic transition reward those countries capable of adaptation. History punishes powerful countries that mistake temporary advantages for permanent ones or fail to adjust when the character of war evolves."

Kelly pointed out how the war in Ukraine has shown the world that technological adaptability and innovation is fundamental for success on the battlefield: "Earlier this year in Munich I met with frontline Ukrainian drone pilots, and their cycle of innovation is a matter of weeks. They tell the engineers what is happening and what they need. Changes are made. And they deploy them on the battlefield. The Russians were slow at the start, but now they are doing the same.

"The countries that will shape the coming era will not just be the traditional "great powers," those with the largest economies or most advanced weapons, but those able to align strategy, technology, industry, and purpose faster and more effectively than their competitors."

Kelly also warned that disinformation is one of the leading threats facing democracies today: "Commercial technologies are being integrated into warfare at unprecedented speed […]The amount of misinformation that we deal with, especially in an election year, is significant and it's growing. It's not just from the Russians. The Chinese, the Iranians […] So that's one of the biggest challenges, I think, that all democracies are now facing."

Sen. Kelly delivers remarks at the Black Sea Security Forum in Odesa.

Kelly closed by stressing that American alliances remain the country's most critical national security asset: "We had friends that would come to our defense and those alliances, when it comes to our national security and the national security of our friends and neighbors, is so critical. It is by far the most critical thing. And when those alliances get weaker, we are all less safe."

Watch the full conversation here.

While in Odesa, Kelly also observed a Ukrainian Navy demonstration of the V-BAT, a ship-launched drone developed by American defense tech company Shield AI, built specifically for surveillance missions in GPS-denied and communications-jammed environments, conditions that define the front lines of the war in Ukraine.

Sen. Kelly speaks with Ukrainian Navy officials about the V-BAT drone system.

Kelly discussed with Ukrainian Navy personnel how the V-BAT system is being used in their war with Russia and discussed potential areas for deeper U.S.-Ukraine collaboration on military technology.

Kelly also travelled to Moldova, where he had the chance to sit down with Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi, Minister of Defense Anatolie Nosatîi, and National Security and Defense Adviser Stanislav Secrieru to discuss Moldova's path to joining the European Union and Moldova's resilience in the face of Russian threats, addressing energy independence in the region.

Kelly reaffirmed the United States' commitment to countering Russian influence in Europe.

Sen. Kelly sits down with Moldovan President Maia Sandu.

Sen. Kelly and Moldovan President Maia Sandu [top] and Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi [bottom].

Sen. Kelly and Marine Security Guard Detachment at the U.S. Embassy in Chișinău, Moldova.

While in Moldova, Kelly met with the Marine Security Guard (MSG) detachment at the U.S. Embassy in Chișinău, taking a moment to thank the Marines protecting the embassy for their service.

Sen. Kelly and Marine Security Guard (MSG) Detachment at the U.S. Embassy in Chișinău, Moldova.