Articles in this Cluster
03-06-2025
Ukraine launched a surprise drone attack on Russian military air bases, damaging or destroying 41 Russian bomber aircraft, and prompting Russia to claim it had struck Ukrainian drone production and storage sites. The attack occurred a day before the two sides held direct talks in Turkey, where Ukraine presented a plan demanding a "full and unconditional ceasefire" and the return of Ukrainian children and civilian hostages taken during the war. Russia's response to the drone attack was muted, with no direct public comment from Russian authorities. The talks, which lasted just over an hour, ended with no breakthrough, but both sides agreed to hold a third round of talks, with Ukrainian officials saying Russia had rejected the call for a broader 30-day ceasefire.
03-06-2025
Ukraine carried out a large-scale drone attack on Russian airbases on June 1, dubbed "Spider Web", using over 100 drones to target nuclear-capable long-range bombers. The drones were smuggled into Russia inside wooden cabins on lorries and launched near airbases. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the operation took 18 months to prepare and involved 117 drones, each with its own pilot. Russia confirmed attacks in five regions, but downplayed the damage, while Ukraine claimed to have hit 41 strategic bombers and destroyed at least 13. The attack targeted Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160 bombers, as well as A-50 military spy planes, causing significant damage and potentially dealing a serious blow to Russia's military capabilities. The operation was seen as a major success by Ukrainians, with Zelensky saying it would be remembered in history books.
03-06-2025
Russia and Ukraine held a second round of direct peace talks in Istanbul but failed to agree on a ceasefire, with Ukraine insisting on a "full and unconditional ceasefire" and Russia proposing a temporary truce in certain areas. The two sides did agree to exchange sick and heavily wounded prisoners of war, as well as those under 25, and to return the bodies of 12,000 soldiers. Russia's demands for a ceasefire include Ukrainian withdrawal from four partly occupied regions, demobilization of its soldiers, and international recognition of Russia's control over Crimea. Ukraine rejected these demands, and there is currently no sign of progress towards a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
03-06-2025
Ukraine conducted a high-risk operation, launching drone strikes from lorries on multiple Russian airbases, including those in Irkutsk, Murmansk, Ryazan, and Ivanovo provinces, damaging over 40 top-secret strategic bombers, in a significant escalation of the conflict.
03-06-2025
Ukraine has once again thwarted Russian President Vladimir Putin's plans, highlighting the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with Russia reportedly suffering significant casualties, around 1 million, since the start of the conflict.
03-06-2025
Former Russian Deputy Minister of Energy Vladimir Milov stated that after Ukraine's drone assault on Russian air bases, Vladimir Putin might retaliate against Ukraine. Milov made these comments in an interview with CNN's Erin Burnett.
03-06-2025
Russia and Ukraine failed to make a significant breakthrough in direct talks in Istanbul, with Russia presenting a memorandum re-stating its maximalist terms, which amount to a Ukrainian surrender. The Russian demands include Ukraine withdrawing from four partially occupied regions, strict limits on its armed forces, and never joining a military alliance. US President Donald Trump's Ukraine peace efforts are now under pressure after Putin's uncompromising stance, and Trump may be forced to act, potentially by increasing US military aid or imposing tough new sanctions on Russia.
03-06-2025
The second round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey did not yield a ceasefire agreement, with Russia rejecting Ukraine's terms. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin "must not receive any reward for [his] war." A prisoner exchange was agreed upon, with around 6,000 prisoners to be exchanged, including sick, seriously injured, and those under 25. Ukraine also handed over a list of several hundred children who were illegally deported by Russia. A future meeting between Ukraine and Russia has yet to be announced.
03-06-2025
At least seven people were killed and 69 injured when two bridges were blown up in separate Russian regions bordering Ukraine on Saturday and Sunday. The blasts occurred ahead of planned peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. A highway bridge was blown up in the Bryansk region as a passenger train was passing underneath, and a railway bridge was blown up in the Kursk region, showering a highway with debris. Russia's Investigative Committee linked the incidents, saying both bridges were blown up, and Russian politicians blamed Ukraine for the sabotage, claiming it was aimed at derailing the peace talks.
03-06-2025
Ukrainian forces conducted a drone strike, code-named "Operation Spider's Web," against Russian military airfields, destroying dozens of Russian warplanes. The operation, personally overseen by President Volodymyr Zelensky, took 18 months to plan and involved using small FPV drones hidden in wooden cabins on trucks, which were launched remotely when near their targets. Russia's defense ministry confirmed attacks on five airfields and admitted that several aircraft caught fire, calling the strike a "terrorist act." Ukraine claimed to have hit 34% of Russia's strategic bombers, with estimated damages ranging from $2 billion to $7 billion. The attack occurred just before planned peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, and Ukraine says it will push for a full ceasefire, the return of captured prisoners, and the return of children taken to Russia. The US Pentagon was not informed about the attack in advance, and US officials were skeptical of reports that up to 50 Russian bombers were hit.
03-06-2025
Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack on Russian air bases, destroying 40 Russian warplanes. The attack, overseen by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, targeted several airfields deep within Russian territory and took over a year to orchestrate. Russia's defense ministry confirmed the attack, stating that it struck five airfields, and that drones hit 41 planes, including A-50, Tu-95, and Tu-22M aircraft. The strike occurred just before Ukrainian and Russian officials were set to meet for ceasefire talks.
03-06-2025
Ukraine carried out a large-scale drone attack on multiple Russian airbases, hitting over 40 warplanes and causing significant damage. The operation, codenamed 'Spider's Web', was planned over 1.5 years and used small drones smuggled into Russia, hidden in sheds on trucks, to target Russian military aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 bombers and an A-50 airborne early warning aircraft. The attack is seen as a humiliating security breach for Vladimir Putin and is likely to trigger a furious response from Moscow, with speculation about potential nuclear threats. The attack comes ahead of planned peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv in Turkey.
03-06-2025
Russia is downplaying Ukraine's unprecedented drone attack on its long-range bombers, with the Kremlin maintaining silence on the matter. Russian state media described the attack as a "terrorist attack" and blamed Ukraine for being the aggressor. On the streets of Moscow, some citizens were skeptical about the scale of the damage, with one saying the reports were "exaggerated" and another trusting President Putin to respond appropriately. However, Russian military bloggers on social media are calling for rapid retaliation, with some even advocating for nuclear strikes on Ukraine. The attack has overshadowed peace talks in Istanbul, where Russia presented a list of maximalist demands, including Ukraine's neutrality and surrender of territory, making the outlook for peace bleaker.
03-06-2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that a recent attack on over 40 Russian bomber aircraft at multiple bases across Russia "will undoubtedly be in history books." The operation, codenamed "spider's web," involved smuggling drones into Russia, hiding them in wooden containers on trucks, and launching them remotely to target Russian aircraft. The attack, which was planned over one and a half years, targeted four Russian airbases, including Belaya, Diagilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo, and caused an estimated $2 billion in damage. Zelenskyy revealed that 117 drones were used and that the Ukrainian operatives involved in the mission have been safely withdrawn from Russia. The attack is seen as a significant breach of Russia's national defenses and a major humiliation for the Kremlin.
03-06-2025
Ukraine's use of drones to attack Russian strategic aircraft within Russia has highlighted a revolution in warfare, with low-cost drones proving effective against high-value targets. The attack, known as Operation Spider Web, demonstrated creativity and technical innovation, using drones launched from secret locations within Russia. The Ukraine war has become a cat-and-mouse game of drone warfare, with both sides adapting to new technologies and tactics. The US can learn from this, as its own drone technology and policies are outdated, and it needs to improve its defenses against drone attacks. The use of drones is changing the nature of war, and whoever takes the technological lead is likely to prevail.
03-06-2025
The Ukrainian military launched a surprise drone attack on Russian airfields, targeting strategic bombers. The New York Times analyzed videos and satellite imagery, confirming the destruction of at least a dozen military aircraft at bases in five regions. The attack on Belaya air base destroyed seven strategic bombers, including Tupolev Tu-22M and Tu-95 bombers. Footage and images showed drones launching from disguised containers on semi-trucks and flying towards the bases, with some bases having decoy aircraft made of car tires and other materials. Russia's Ministry of Defense reported that attacks on three other locations were repelled, but The Times was unable to verify these claims. The attack is seen as a significant blow to Russia's campaign of using long-range bombers to target Ukraine.
03-06-2025
Ukraine launched a drone attack on Russian airfields and warplanes deep inside Russia, destroying or severely damaging up to 20 Russian strategic aircraft, including long-range bombers and warplanes used to detect air defenses. The attack, known as Operation Spider's Web, demonstrated Ukraine's ability to strike nearly anywhere in Russia and highlighted its growing capabilities in drone warfare. The operation involved deploying agents far from Ukraine's borders and using drones that cost as little as $600 to destroy warplanes worth $100 million or more. US officials expect Russia to mount a significant retaliation against Ukraine, potentially targeting civilian areas or the energy grid. The attack has significant implications for modern warfare, showing that inexpensive drones can be used to achieve strategic effects and that even large military bases are vulnerable to such attacks.
