Ukraine's drone strike shows it is not helpless without US intelligence
Ukraine's decision to launch a drone attack into Russia as the next phase of peace negotiations involving delegations from Washington and Kyiv began is a clear demonstration that its military capacity has not yet been significantly dented by Donald Trump's decision to withhold military intelligence last week.
Russia's defence ministry said Ukraine had attacked with 337 drones, 91 of which were aimed at Moscow and the surrounding region. Three people were reported to have been killed, all four of the Russian capital's airports had to be closed, and local air defences were not entirely effective in repelling the assault.
A handful of apartment buildings were visibly damaged, though not too seriously. Moscow's regional governor said that two people had been killed at a car park near a meat processing plant in Domodedovo, five miles from an airport. Fragments of a drone hit the ground, setting fire to cars shortly after 5am, Andrei Vorobyov wrote on his Telegram channel. Later, it was reported that a third man had died.
Striking at civilian targets is never attractive, though the images were not dissimilar to those of Ukrainian cities hit nightly by Russian bombing over the past three years. Russia has also been increasing the scale of its drone attacks recently – on Monday it launched 126 Shahed drones, as well as other, decoy drones, into Ukraine, as well as a ballistic missile.
Though it is not clear what targeting information Ukraine is working with now, there have been assurances by the French and British that they will continue to supply reconnaissance data gleaned from satellites and air- and ground-based surveillance, as well as open-source data. Moscow's airports, for example, cannot move and it is easy to force their closure with simply the threat of a drone attack.
Tuesday night's attacks are a reminder of how far Ukraine's long-range drone capability (mostly manufactured indigenously) has developed, but is also a warning to Moscow that the loss of US intelligence – principally targeting information – is not likely to precipitate a battlefield collapse as diplomatic talks begin.
Until Donald Trump's arrival in the White House, there had been no peace negotiations since spring 2022. That has been changed by the US president's willingness to talk to Russia's Vladimir Putin and lean on Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy – but it is anything but clear that Kyiv will choose this moment to give in.
Critically, the revised military balance, without US intelligence, has yet to be established. On Thursday last week, a day after the US confirmed its decision, Russia launched an effort, with the help of North Korean troops, to recapture the remainder of the Kursk pocket held by Ukraine. It has forced the defenders back by between four and eight miles (6km and 12km) and into the outskirts of Sudhza, a village that Ukraine has occupied since August.
Ukraine's position in the salient has deteriorated markedly, but it may well be a function of a concentrated Russian attack, rather than the beginnings of a rout caused by an absence of targeting data. The return of North Korean soldiers to the frontline, after a period in which they were reconstituted after taking heavy casualties, and reports of a heavy use of Russian drones both point to a determined offensive.
There were reports of some totemic US weapons systems – such as the radar jammers on Ukraine's small fleet of F-16s jets – becoming non-functional. But the loss of capability in one area may be more than offset by gains elsewhere: the growing sophistication of Ukrainian jamming means that Russian glide bombs, once considered a wonder weapon, are increasingly inaccurate.
A more open question is whether halting US military aid will significantly degrade the position of the Ukrainians over time, but if the diplomatic track does not bear fruit, experts believe Russia and Ukraine can carry on fighting at similar levels of intensity through the rest of 2025. Meanwhile, the battles of the moment, at least, are likely to be coloured heavily by the political discussions.
Ukraine's attack into Russia is also designed to reinforce its proposal for an air truce – itself a counter to Trump's argument that Kyiv does not want peace. In reality, it is Ukraine that would gain the most from halting long-range missile and drone attacks, giving it a chance to rebuild its partly destroyed energy networks. So by striking into Russia, it can at least argue that Moscow would have something to gain.
The problem is that military escalation is not the most obvious route to peace.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘Democracy Forward' Compilation Features Tracks From Michael Stipe, Wilco, Brandi Carlile, John Prine and Tyler Childers
The 20-track Democracy Forward double album will feature songs from R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe, Wilco, Tyler Childers, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and many more on a compilation focused on democracy, resilience and courage. The collection is a partnership between literary magazine The Bitter Southerner and national legal organization Democracy Forward. 'The work of Democracy Forward ensures that people and communities – that all of us – are heard and that our rights are protected,' said Skye Perryman, President & CEO of Democracy Forward in a statement about the collection that will be release on vinyl the week of July 3; pre-sales begin today here. More from Billboard Cardi B Blasts Donald Trump's 'Dictatorship Vibe' Over ICE Raids & National Guard Deployment Cloonee Postpones L.A. Shows Amid ICE Raids: 'I Will Not Throw a Party Whilst the Latino People Who Have Supported Me in This City Are Hurting' Leon Thomas' 'Mutt' Snatches Third Radio Crown of 2025 'At a time when so many communities across the nation are hurting and being targeted, music, art, and expression helps to bring people together in community, which creates the conditions for courage,' read the statement. 'We are incredibly grateful to the artists who have dedicated their music to support the American people's rights and our democracy during this consequential time. Each of us has a role to play in strengthening our democracy, and every voice matters.' Proceeds from the album will benefit Democracy Forward's work, which includes free representation for people and communities in defense of their constitutional rights. Since the second inauguration of President Donald Trump, Democracy Forward said in the statement that it has been focused on 'some of the most significant issues affecting people, families, and communities to confront anti-democratic extremism head-on. From stopping the federal funding freeze, to blocking the decimation of the Department of Education, to protecting religious liberty, to safeguarding due process, to stopping DOGE and Musk from taking Americans' sensitive and personal data, and more – Democracy Forward has won court orders for people and is just getting started.' The album will open with Stipe's new original spoken word piece 'Invocation.' The singer and activist said in a statement, 'We believe in the importance of our democracy and also our ability to save it. The world is depending on us. This fight is not over. The day is not done.' Since Democracy Forward's formation in 2016, the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit has taken the Trump administration to court more than 100 times and worked with dozens of prominent groups to combat some of the administration's actions by partnering with organizations including: Abortion Fund of Ohio, National Immigrant Justice Center, National Parks Conservation Association, Alliance For Justice, National Resources Defense Council, New York Civil Liberties Union, American Federation of Teachers, Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and the Southern Poverty Law Center. The album announcement comes as Trump is attempting to muscle through his so-called 'Big Beautiful Bill,' a proposed tax and spending package that aims to permanently extend the president's big tax cuts for the nation's wealthiest individuals, as well as make deep cuts to social programs including Medicaid and food aid and roll back a wide variety of environmental regulations and green energy initiatives in an effort to focus on climate-warming fossil fuels. It also coincided with Trump's provocative deployment of 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles on Monday (June 9) — without the consent of Gov. Gavin Newsom — in order to quell demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in the city. Check out the track list for Democracy Forward below. Michael Stipe – 'Invocation' (new) Sierra Ferrell –'American Dreaming' Wilco – 'Cruel Country' Tyler Childers – 'Long Violent History' Brandi Carlile – 'Speak Your Mind' Hurray for the Riff Raff – 'Colossus of Roads' Brittany Howard – 'Another Day Tunde Abebimpe – 'People' Kevin Morby and Waxahatchee – 'Farewell Transmission' Fruit Bats – 'A Lingering Love' Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – 'Something More Than Free' (Live from the ACL Live) She Returns From War – 'Ruthless' John Prine – 'Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven' (Live at Fifth Peg Chicago) S.G. Goodman – 'Satellite' Allison Russell (featuring Brandi Carlile) – 'You're Not Alone' Langhorne Slim – 'Life is Confusing' Blue Mountain – 'Jimmy Carter' Danielle Ponder – 'So Long' Jim James – 'Here in Spirit' Michael Stipe and Big Red Machine – 'No Time For Love Like Now' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Critics Expose The Massive Constitutional Flaw In Donald Trump's Latest Threat
Donald Trump's threat to use 'very heavy force' on anyone who dares to protest his administration during the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary celebrations in Washington, D.C., on Saturday — which coincides with the president's 79th birthday — drew fierce blowback on social media. 'If there's any protester wants to come out, they will be met with very big force,' Trump told reporters on Tuesday. 'For those people, that want to protest, they're going to be met with very big force,' he reiterated. Trump claimed he hadn't 'even heard about a protest' being planned on the day. But he deployed his usual rhetoric against his critics, claiming they are just 'people who hate our country.' And he added again, 'They will be met with very heavy force.' Critics reminded Trump of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states that: 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.' Former Trump aide Anthony Scaramucci, who is now a vocal critic of his onetime boss, slammed Trump for 'threatening state sponsored violence on citizens exercising their first amendment right' and called Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to 'grow a backbone' and speak out to 'reject fascism.' Others agreed: Surprise Departure Deals Blow To Slim GOP House Majority Rachel Maddow Reveals Sure Sign Trump Is 'Absolutely Panicking' Right Now Trump Reveals What's Next For That Tesla He Bought From Elon Musk
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Macron to push for ban on social media for under-15s after school stabbing
PARIS (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron said he would push for European Union regulation to ban social media for children under the age of 15 after a fatal stabbing at a school in eastern France, the latest such violent attack that left the country reeling. Macron said in an interview late on Tuesday that he hoped to see results within the next few months. "If that does not work, we will start to do it in France. We cannot wait," he told the France 2 public broadcaster, hours after a fatal stabbing at a middle school in Nogent, Haute-Marne. Police questioned a 14-year-old student on Tuesday over the knifing of a 31-year-old school aide during a bag search for weapons. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou told parliament the incident was not an isolated case. Macron said social media was one of the factors to blame for violence among young people. Writing on social media platform X after the interview, Macron said such regulation was backed by experts. "Platforms have the ability to verify age. Do it," he wrote. Macron's comments come amid a wave of measures in countries around the world aimed at curbing social media use among children. Australia last year approved a social media ban for under-16s after an emotive public debate, setting a benchmark for jurisdictions around the world with one of the toughest regulations targeting Big Tech. Although most social media do not allow children under 13 to use their platforms, a report by Australia's online safety regulator found children easily bypass such restrictions.