Everything we know about Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb
Ukraine was jubilant on June 1 as news filtered through of a stunning drone attack targeting Russian heavy bombers that simultaneously attacked four air bases, two of them thousands of miles inside Russia. The operation reportedly damaged or destroyed over 40 Russian heavy bombers. The Kyiv Independent's Chris York explains everything we know about Operation Spiderweb.
We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Epoch Times
2 hours ago
- Epoch Times
Putin Won't Stop at Ukraine, Says Chair of Joint Chiefs of Staff
Gen. Dan 'Razin' Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told senators on June 11 that he does not believe Russian President Vladimir Putin would stop at Ukraine if he succeeds in conquering the country. Caine made the comment during
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Republicans press Pentagon chief over Trump's plan to end Russia's war against Ukraine, Politico reports
At a Senate budget hearing on June 11, Republican senators fiercely criticized U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the Trump administration's effort to end the Ukraine war through negotiations involving Russia. The session revealed deep divisions within the GOP on U.S. foreign policy, as lawmakers clashed over the administration's strategic direction, Politico reports. Leading the pushback was Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, one of three Republicans who voted against Hegseth's confirmation, who warned, "America's reputation is on the line." McConnell, now chair of the panel overseeing defense funding, issued some of his strongest public criticism yet, questioning whether the United States would continue defending democratic allies against authoritarian threats. He contrasted his stance — rooted in a Reagan-era commitment to global leadership — with Hegseth's "America First" approach favored by many Trump supporters. "We don't want a headline at the end of this conflict that says Russia wins and America loses," McConnell said. When asked who the aggressor in the three-year-old war is, Hegseth responded, "Russia is the aggressor." But he avoided directly stating which side the U.S. wants to see win, instead emphasizing that President Trump is committed to achieving peace. Hegseth shifted blame to the Biden and Obama administrations, arguing that slow responses during their terms allowed Putin to seize Crimea and invade Ukraine. "Vladimir Putin knows that President Trump is strong," he said, suggesting a negotiated peace would bolster America's global position. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a prominent Trump ally, questioned whether Putin would stop his territorial ambitions if he gained ground in Ukraine. Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine said he did not believe Putin would stop. Hegseth, however, responded, "It remains to be seen." Graham rebuked that answer, saying, "This is the '30s all over. It doesn't remain to be seen." Democrats also raised concerns. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware criticized the administration for omitting Ukraine aid in its 2026 budget request and warned against compromising too much for the sake of peace. 'We cannot abandon Ukraine,' he said. Hegseth defended the administration's strategy, calling a negotiated settlement a show of strength. "The alternative of endless war that is largely funded by the United States and fought by Ukrainians… does not make sense strategically," he said. Read also: America's weak strongman We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
New Russian ambassador tells Trump he will work to restore relations
(Reuters) -The new Russian ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, pledged to work to fully restore relations with Washington as he formally presented his credentials to President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Russian news agencies reported. "Russia and the United States are destined, as great powers, to have non-confrontational peaceful existence," the agencies quoted Darchiev as telling a reception at Russian embassy after returning from the White House. "It was a great honour for me, as Russian ambassador, to speak with President Trump and I assured him that I and this embassy under my direction will do everything to restore Russian-American relations and bring them back to normality and common sense." He said Trump had found time to receive him on the eve of the Russia Day holiday - which marks Russia's 1990 declaration of sovereignty, more than a year before the Soviet collapse. Darchiev has already completed two diplomatic stints in the United States and served as ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021. Like other senior Russian diplomats, he has in recent years issued strong public denunciations of the United States and the West. Washington's relations with Moscow plunged to their lowest in decades under Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, over the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine. Ties have improved since Trump took office, with the two sides in contact to discuss a possible resolution to the conflict. "We have at last moved from monologues under the previous administration and a general absence of discussion to quite a pragmatic conversation, a complicated conversation," Darchiev was quoted as saying. The ambassador said his meeting with the U.S. president was a short one as dictated by protocol. "Nonetheless, our discussion was very constructive," the agencies quoted him as saying.
