Latest news with #OpSpiderweb
Scottish Sun
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Russia bombs Kyiv killing four & injuring dozens in missile & drone blitz as Putin plots revenge for Op Spiderweb
At least 20 others are injured in the Ukrainian capital VLAD ATTACK Russia bombs Kyiv killing four & injuring dozens in missile & drone blitz as Putin plots revenge for Op Spiderweb Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RUSSIA has launched an overnight missile and drone blitz against Ukraine, killing four in Kyiv. At least 20 others are injured in the Ukrainian capital as fires had to be put out around the city. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Fire and smoke rise in Kyiv following a Russian drone and missile strike overnight Credit: Reuters 4 Ukrainian air defences shoot back against Russia's strike Credit: Alamy 4 A Russian bomb lands in Ukraine Credit: AP In Solomyanskyi district, a fire broke out on the 11th floor of a 16-story residential building. Emergency services evacuated three people from the apartment, and rescue operations were ongoing. Another fire broke out in a metal warehouse. In northern Chernihiv region, a Shahed drone exploded near an apartment building, shattering windows and doors, according to regional military administration chief Dmytro Bryzhynskyi. He added that explosions from ballistic missiles were also recorded on the outskirts of the city. The nighttime attack came hours after US President Donald Trump said it might be better to let Ukraine and Russia fight for a while. The President has been so far unsuccessful on getting the two countries to agree to peace - with Moscow not moving on its demands. Trump spoke as he met with Germany's new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who appealed to him as the key person in the world who could halt the bloodshed by pressuring Putin. The American has also hailed Ukraine's daring Operation Spiderweb attack as "strong and badass". The US president heaped praise on Volodymyr Zelensky for his calculated drone assault attack - but warned it has only made Vlad crazier. Russia's ambassador to the UK 'blames Britain' for Ukraine's daring drone attack & warns of 'WWIII risk' The Kremlin dictator held a 75 minute phone call with Trump on Wednesday as they discussed rising tensions in Ukraine. Top of the agenda was reportedly the 117 drone blitz over the weekend which left four of Russia's key airbases up in flames. The daring Operation Spiderweb saw a fired up Ukraine wreck 41 Russian planes across the strategic airfields. Putin's doomsday bomber fleet was crippled with a third of his most prized aircraft lying in smouldering wrecks. 4 Firefighters work at the site of a Russian drone attack in Kyiv Credit: Reuters More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Trump hailed Ukraine ‘Op Spiderweb' drone strikes as ‘badass' – but he fears Putin will ‘go crazy' after crunch call
DONALD Trump has hailed Ukraine's daring "Operation Spiderweb" attack as "strong and badass". The US president heaped praise on Volodymyr Zelensky for his calculated drone assault plan - but warned it has only made a raging Vladimir Putin even crazier. 8 Donald Trump has hailed Ukraine's daring 'Operation Spiderweb' attack as 'strong and badass' Credit: AFP 8 Ukraine hit bombers at the Russian Belaya Air Base in Irkutsk Credit: Social media 8 Multiple aircraft were set ablaze at Belaya Air Base Credit: East2West 8 The Kremlin dictator held a 75 minute phone call with Trump on Wednesday as they discussed rising tensions in Ukraine. Top of the agenda was reportedly the 117 drone blitz over the weekend which left four of Russia's key airbases up in flames. The daring Operation Spiderweb saw a fired up Ukraine wreck 41 Russian planes across the strategic airfields. Putin's doomsday bomber fleet was crippled with a third of his most prized aircraft lying in smouldering wrecks. Ukraine said the sneak attack was worth $7bn (£5.2bn) in damage to Russia. Trump is believed to have been impressed by the cunning plot which took over 18 months to pull off under Zelensky's watchful eye. One source revealed to Axios that Trump told him the assault was "pretty strong". Another said the president "thought it was badass". A third anonymous confidant close to the Trump administration also praised the attack. They said: "From an international perspective, you've got a chihuahua inflicting some real damage on a much bigger dog." Clearest vid yet of daring Op Spiderweb shows 35 Ukrainian bomb drones blowing up plane after multimillion dollar plane Despite receiving the impressive plaudits from their American allies, Trump also made it clear it will have only increased Putin's rage. Trump reportedly told one source: "We want this war to end. We want it to de-escalate. "So if Putin goes crazy in response, yeah, the president has concerns." A senior White House official has also spoken out since and said Trump won't be too happy about another escalation in the war. "He wants the fighting to stop, so it disappoints him whenever there is an attack like that," they said. Trump has spent the past few months since he returned to office trying to balance his relationship with both Moscow and Kyiv. In his latest attempt to draw both sides closer to a ceasefire he spoke with Putin over the phone. Trump revealed that the despot made it clear he feels he 'will have to respond' to the audacious drone assault. Inside Operation Spiderweb By Foreign News Reporter, James Halpin UKRAINE'S shock sleeper drone blitz on Russia's bomber fleet has delivered a hammer blow to Vladimir Putin's nuclear arsenal. The SAS-style strike against four airfields deep inside Russia is reminiscent of the most daring raids of the WW2 that turned the tide against the Nazis. Volodymyr Zelensky oversaw Operation Spiderweb - much like Winston Churchill did as Britain struck deep behind enemy lines. Putin's doomsday bomber fleet is now crippled with 41, or a third, of his most prized aircraft lying in smouldering wrecks on tarmac. Ukraine said the sneak attack was worth $7bn (£5.2bn) in damage to Russia - caused by only 117 cheaply made drones. Ukraine's spies spent 18 months putting the plan into action and struck on the eve of fresh peace talks in Istanbul. The drones and the containers were smuggled into Russia separately and were pieced together right under Vlad's nose. Clueless lorry drivers then parked the containers next to Russian airbases - where they sat and waited in plain sight. Then, on the morning of June 1, the fleet of flying bombs rose over the far reaches of Russia - and the most daring military operation of the war began. Nondescript shipping containers parked in laybys and verges had attracted little attention - before their lids blew open and the drone swarms poured out. The craft buzzed as they took off into the air and only had to travel a short distance to their valuable targets. Each of the 117 drones had their own dedicated pilot and Russia had little defences to protect their bases and stop them. Drones with cameras sent video back to HQ in Ukraine of the moment craft struck their targets and explosions ripped into the sky. Thick black smoke climbed high, with civilians near the bases sending video of Ukraine's successes around the world. The furthest strike was Belaya Air Base - so far inside Russia that the closest neighbouring country is Mongolia. Olenya Air Base near Finland and Ivanovo and Dyagilevo near Moscow were also struck in the country's west. It comes as The Sun laid out the six possible methods Putin may use to respond to the enemy. The tyrant could retaliate with one of his terrifying tactical nukes, launch a deadly 7,600mph missile or even order a renewed 50,000 troop assault to overpower his enemies. The Kremlin gave a chilling response earlier today regarding how they may respond. A spokesperson said: "Russian Federation will respond to the attack on airfields when and in the way that the military deems appropriate." And overnight, Vlad already launched his first retaliatory strikes on several residential regions. The worst saw a baby, their mum and grandma all killed due to a Shahed kamikaze drone blast which caused their home to collapse. Two others were also found dead in Chernihiv with another 17 seriously wounded in Kharkiv. 8 Trump also warned the attack has only made a raging Vladimir Putin even crazier Credit: AP 8 A satellite picture of the Belaya Airbase shows how a Russian bomber was left smashed to pieces after Ukraine's strikes Credit: AFP 8 Ukraine released photos of the drones in the crates taken from inside Russia Credit: Unpixs
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Trump hailed Ukraine ‘Op Spiderweb' drone strikes as ‘badass' – but he fears Putin will ‘go crazy' after crunch call
DONALD Trump has hailed Ukraine's daring "Operation Spiderweb" attack as "strong and badass". The US president heaped praise on Volodymyr Zelensky for his Advertisement 8 Donald Trump has hailed Ukraine's daring 'Operation Spiderweb' attack as 'strong and badass' Credit: AFP 8 Ukraine hit bombers at the Russian Belaya Air Base in Irkutsk Credit: Social media 8 Multiple aircraft were set ablaze at Belaya Air Base Credit: East2West 8 The Kremlin dictator held a Top of the agenda was reportedly the 117 drone blitz over the weekend which left four of Russia's key airbases up in flames. The daring Operation Spiderweb saw a fired up Putin's Advertisement read more in Ukraine war Ukraine said the sneak attack was worth $7bn (£5.2bn) in damage to Russia . Trump is believed to have been impressed by the cunning plot which took over 18 months to pull off under Zelensky's watchful eye. One source revealed to Another said the president "thought it was badass". Advertisement Most read in The US Sun A third anonymous confidant close to the Trump administration also praised the attack. They said: "From an international perspective, you've got a chihuahua inflicting some real damage on a much bigger dog." Clearest vid yet of daring Op Spiderweb shows 35 Ukrainian bomb drones blowing up plane after multimillion dollar plane Despite receiving the impressive plaudits from their American allies, Trump also made it clear it will have only increased Putin's rage. Trump reportedly told one source: "We want this war to end. We want it to de-escalate. Advertisement "So if Putin goes crazy in response, yeah, the president has concerns." A senior White House official has also spoken out since and said Trump won't be too happy about another escalation in the war. "He wants the fighting to stop, so it disappoints him whenever there is an attack like that," they said. Trump has spent the past few months since he returned to office trying to balance his relationship with both Moscow and Kyiv. Advertisement In his latest attempt to draw both sides closer to a ceasefire he spoke with Putin over the phone. Trump revealed that the despot made it clear he feels he 'will have to respond' to the audacious drone assault. Inside Operation Spiderweb By Foreign News Reporter, James Halpin UKRAINE'S shock sleeper drone blitz on Russia's bomber fleet has delivered a hammer blow to Vladimir Putin's nuclear arsenal. The SAS-style strike against Volodymyr Zelensky oversaw Operation Spiderweb - much like Winston Churchill did as Britain struck deep behind enemy lines. Putin's doomsday bomber fleet is now crippled with 41, or a third, of his most prized aircraft lying in smouldering wrecks on tarmac. Ukraine said the sneak attack was worth $7bn (£5.2bn) in damage to Russia - caused by only 117 cheaply made drones. Ukraine's spies spent 18 months putting the plan into action and struck on the eve of The drones and the containers were smuggled into Russia separately and were pieced together right under Vlad's nose. Clueless lorry drivers then parked the containers next to Russian airbases - where they sat and waited in plain sight. Then, on the morning of June 1, the fleet of flying bombs rose over the far reaches of Russia - and the most daring military operation of the war began. Nondescript shipping containers parked in laybys and verges had attracted little attention - before their lids blew open and the drone swarms poured out. The craft buzzed as they took off into the air and only had to travel a short distance to their valuable targets. Each of the 117 drones had their own dedicated pilot and Russia had little defences to protect their bases and stop them. Drones with cameras sent video back to HQ in Ukraine of the moment craft struck their targets and explosions ripped into the sky. Thick black smoke climbed high, with civilians near the bases sending video of Ukraine's successes around the world. The furthest strike was Belaya Air Base - so far inside Russia that the closest neighbouring country is Mongolia. Olenya Air Base near Finland and Ivanovo and Dyagilevo near Moscow were also struck in the country's west. It comes as The Sun laid out the The tyrant could retaliate with one of his terrifying tactical nukes, launch a deadly 7,600mph missile or even order a renewed 50,000 troop assault to Advertisement The Kremlin gave a chilling response earlier today regarding how they may respond. A spokesperson said: "Russian Federation will respond to the attack on airfields when and in the way that the military deems appropriate." And overnight, Vlad already launched his first retaliatory strikes on several residential regions. The worst saw a Advertisement Two others were also found dead in Chernihiv with another 17 seriously wounded in Kharkiv. 8 Trump also warned the attack has only made a raging Vladimir Putin even crazier Credit: AP 8 A satellite picture of the Belaya Airbase shows how a Russian bomber was left smashed to pieces after Ukraine's strikes Credit: AFP 8 Ukraine released photos of the drones in the crates taken from inside Russia Credit: Unpixs Advertisement 8
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
From tactical nuke to 7,600mph missile & 50k-troop assault…6 ways Putin could respond to Ukraine blitz after Trump call
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SEETHING Vladimir Putin is looking to get his revenge on Ukraine after their daring drone blitz - here's how he could do it. The despot could retaliate with one of his terrifying tactical nukes, launch a deadly 7,600mph missile or even order a renewed 50,000 troop assault to overpower his enemies. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 16 A seething Vladimir Putin is looking to get his revenge on Ukraine after their daring drone blitz on the weekend Credit: AP 16 Ukraine destroyed 41 Russian planes across four key airfields but now face Russia's revenge 16 Russia has already responded by killing five civilians in Pryluky, Chernihiv region in overnight strikes Credit: East2West 16 Putin has always shown during his barbaric full-scale invasion that he will go to unthinkable lengths for a victory and to avenge any personal humiliations. The Russian tyrant was dealt a hammer blow to much of his nuclear arsenal over the weekend in the intricately planned assaults codenamed "Operation Spiderweb". Ukraine launched shock sleeper drones on Russia's bomber fleet stationed at four separate airfields. Putin's doomsday bomber fleet was crippled with a third of his most prized aircraft lying in smouldering wrecks. read more in Ukraine war BLOODY VLAD Baby among 5 dead as Putin unleashes strikes on Ukraine hours after revenge vow Ukraine said the sneak attack was worth $7bn (£5.2bn) in damage to Russia. A fuming Vlad then told Donald Trump in the pair's latest lengthy phone call that he feels he 'will have to respond' to the audacious assault. Overnight, he launched his first retaliatory strikes on several residential regions in Ukraine. The worst saw a baby, their mum and grandma all killed due to a Shahed kamikaze drone blast which caused their home to collapse. Two others were also found dead in Chernihiv with another 17 seriously wounded in Kharkiv. But fears are now growing that the Kremlin leader won't view his deadly drone blitz as enough to push back Ukraine. Clearest vid yet of daring Op Spiderweb shows 35 Ukrainian bomb drones blowing up plane after multimillion dollar plane Sparking serious concerns that the Kremlin may now be planning a much wider and more severe response to Kyiv. The Kremlin gave a chilling response earlier today regarding how they may respond. A spokesperson said: "Russian Federation will respond to the attack on airfields when and in the way that the military deems appropriate." Here are five ways a maniacal Putin could seek revenge on Ukraine. Tactical nukes Ukraine's expertly orchestrated attack on Russia's airbases obliterated many of Putin's nuclear-capable strategic bombers. But due to the Kremlin's vast military capabilities, it only just dented its nuclear force. This means that Vlad still has access to countless of nuclear armed tactical weapons. George Beebe, the vice president of US think tank Center for the National Interest says the attack may spark a firm response. 16 Putin has tested out dozens of nuclear capable missiles since the war broke out Credit: AP 16 Satellite images show three new nuclear test facilities constructed at the Nenoksa naval facility in Russia Credit: Google Earth 16 He told Foreign Policy: "The Russians recently revised their nuclear-use doctrine. "One of the things that they specifically said in there was that if there are attacks by an adversary on an important state or military infrastructure that would disrupt responses, potentially by Russia's nuclear forces. "And that is potentially a trigger for Russian nuclear use." In May, it was also revealed that Russia has expanded one of its nuclear weapons bases. New satellite images reveal construction work inside the strictly controlled military site of Nenoksa. Three new facilities - each the size of a football field - can be seen at the centre of the naval testing site. Russia is believed to have over 6,000 nuclear warheads in total spread across the country. These include the Kh-47M2 Dagger, the SSC-X-9 Skyfall and even the super heavy hypersonic missile known as the RS-28 Satan II. Oreshnik blitz One of the most terrifying weapons in the Kremlin's arsenal is their hypersonic Oreshnik missile. The intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) travels at Mach 10 - or 7,600mph - and can strike targets up to 5,000km away. The weapon was used in Dnipro, Ukraine in November 2024, marking its battlefield debut. It was launched after Kyiv used US-made ATACMS missiles on Russian territory for the first time. Back in March, Putin was again urged to unleash the Oreshnik by a Kremlin mouthpiece after suffering a major setback in his invasion. 16 The Oreshnik has been used before in Ukraine with frightening results 16 Video purported to show the strikes above Dnipro in Ukraine Ukraine launched the biggest drone attack on Moscow since the start of Russia's war made up if 337 drones. In response, former Russian deputy defence minister Col-Gen Andrey Kartapolov said it would not be "unreasonable" to launch more than one of the devastating missiles. HUR Chief Kyrylo Budanov said if his officers feared such a powerful weapon was on the brink of being used then he would send out an urgent warning. Despite the concerns of an impending strike, a top intelligence official in Ukraine has said they do not expect a Oreshnik to be launched. Launch the 50,000-troop Kharkiv offensive Russia is building up a 50,000-strong army to launch a fresh summer offensive into Kharkiv, it was reported last week. In April, Ukraine's military claimed the Kremlin was amassing troops to prepare a renewed assault on Ukraine's second largest city. Andrii Pomahaibus, the chief of staff of Ukraine's 13th National Guard Khartiia Brigade, said in May: "The enemy is trying to pull its personnel closer to the line of combat contact and conduct at least some assault actions." Experts fear Putin may be stalling ceasefire talks so he can pull off a major Russian offensive. 16 Kharkiv has been fiercely contested throughout the conflict Credit: Getty 16 Russian soldiers line up during a military parade Credit: Reuters 16 But if Vlad can throw another 50,000 fighters into battle and continue his meatgrinder tactics then it could overwhelm an already depleted Ukraine. Military analysts believe he is trying to gain as much stolen land as possible so he can go to the negotiating table with complete control. They also warn Putin only has a "four-month window" to get a breakthrough in Ukraine this year. And Ukraine's Spiderweb strikes could spark the beginning of a summer offensive targeting the border city of Kharkiv. The region has been fiercely contested throughout the conflict and is known as the "fortress" city after Ukraine put up the maximum resistance to keep hold of it. Increased airstrikes across Ukraine Russia has already launched dozens of airstrikes and drone attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities since he was humiliated on the weekend. He has made use of his impervious weapons throughout the gruelling war and has attempted to throw everything at his enemy. But with Ukraine dealing a major blow to Russia's aircraft in their attack it could cause the despot to unleash even more fury. Dozens of Ukrainian regions have faced countless airstrikes since February 2022 from the capital of Kyiv to the port city of Odesa. Almost every night Russian blasts have been reported by civilians. Mad Vlad may now decide it is the time to step up this already rampant aggression to put Ukraine to the sword. The Kyiv Independent claimed that Ukraine will soon face 500 long-range drones a night as Russia ramps up its weapons production. The Kremlin is also investing in building new launch sites, a source in Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) revealed. The record number of drones launched by Putin's men currently sits at 472. They also have around 70 strategic bombers at their disposal which could all be used to spread carnage across residential blocks. Ditch peace talks and rule out a future ceasefire The final way that Putin could respond to Ukraine is through a non-lethal yet crippling manner off the battlefield. Russia has a far greater number of weapons and troops meaning the longer the war goes on for the more likely they are to outlast Ukraine, experts believe. Despite Kyiv remaining strong across the past three and a half years, they have relied on international aid from the US, UK and Nato forces to keep them in the fight. These same global partners have also been pushing for a ceasefire to be agreed to end the fighting. 16 Previous talks between Russia and Ukraine on May 16 Credit: AFP 16 Despite peace talks constant fighting has carried on in Ukraine Credit: Reuters Led by Trump, Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, a surging amount of pressure is being applied on Putin to negotiate. So far, he has rejected all attempts to have a face-to-face meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky about halting the invasion. Instead, sending a low-level delegation to peace talks which have resulted in little progress being made. But Putin may now decide to completely pull Russia out of any conversations aiming to end the war. He may use the spiderweb strike as a chance to pull out of negotiations and claim it shows Ukraine doesn't want or deserve peace. This would force Nato and Ukraine's allies to react. This could involve an increased military backing of Kyiv or tougher sanctions being imposed on Moscow. Spies step up sabotage strikes Putin is known to have a team full of shady spies littered across Europe. The latest group are the Department of Special Tasks - or SSD - who are tasked with sabotage, cyber attacks and assassinations across Europe, Western intelligence officials say. And warnings are starting to come out of Ukraine about Russia ramping up its recruitment process. Artem Dekhtyarenko, an SBU spokesman, said: "The enemy is trying to recruit Ukrainians by posing as the Security Service of Ukraine." In recent weeks the number of reported recruitment drives has skyrocketed, he added. The genuine SBU has reportedly been actively seeking out these Russian liars to prevent the spread of harmful misinformation. 16 Artem Dekhtyarenko, an SBU spokesman, has warned Russia is using a new spy tactic to infiltrate Ukraine Credit: Facebook
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
From tactical nuke to 7,600mph missile & 50k-troop assault…6 ways Putin could respond to Ukraine blitz after Trump call
A SEETHING Vladimir Putin is looking to get his revenge on Ukraine after their daring drone blitz - here's how he could do it. The despot could retaliate with one of his terrifying tactical nukes, launch a deadly 7,600mph missile or even order a renewed 50,000 troop assault to 16 A seething Vladimir Putin is looking to get his revenge on Ukraine after their daring drone blitz on the weekend Credit: AP 16 Ukraine destroyed 41 Russian planes across four key airfields but now face Russia's revenge 16 Russia has already responded by killing five civilians in Pryluky, Chernihiv region in overnight strikes Credit: East2West 16 Putin has always shown during his barbaric full-scale invasion that he will go to unthinkable lengths for a victory and to avenge any personal humiliations. The Russian tyrant was dealt a hammer blow to much of his nuclear arsenal over the weekend in the intricately planned assaults codenamed Ukraine launched shock sleeper drones on Russia's bomber fleet stationed at four separate airfields. Putin's read more in Ukraine war Ukraine said the sneak attack was worth $7bn (£5.2bn) in damage to Russia . A fuming Vlad then told Donald Trump in the pair's Overnight, he launched his first retaliatory strikes on several residential regions in Ukraine. The worst saw a Most read in The US Sun Two others were also found dead in Chernihiv with another 17 seriously wounded in Kharkiv. But fears are now growing that the Kremlin leader won't view his deadly drone blitz as enough to push back Ukraine. Clearest vid yet of daring Op Spiderweb shows 35 Ukrainian bomb drones blowing up plane after multimillion dollar plane Sparking serious concerns that the Kremlin may now be planning a much wider and more severe response to Kyiv. The Kremlin gave a chilling response earlier today regarding how they may respond. A spokesperson said: "Russian Federation will respond to the attack on airfields when and in the way that the military deems appropriate." Here are five ways a maniacal Putin could seek revenge on Ukraine. Tactical nukes Ukraine's expertly orchestrated attack on Russia's airbases obliterated many of Putin's nuclear-capable strategic bombers. But due to the Kremlin's vast military capabilities, it only just dented its nuclear force. This means that Vlad still has access to George Beebe, the vice president of US think tank Center for the National Interest says the attack may spark a firm response. 16 Putin has tested out dozens of nuclear capable missiles since the war broke out Credit: AP 16 Satellite images show three new nuclear test facilities constructed at the Nenoksa naval facility in Russia Credit: Google Earth 16 He told "One of the things that they specifically said in there was that if there are attacks by an adversary on an important state or military infrastructure that would disrupt responses, potentially by Russia's nuclear forces. "And that is potentially a trigger for Russian nuclear use." In May, it was also revealed that Russia has New satellite images reveal construction work inside the strictly controlled military site of Nenoksa. Three new facilities - each the size of a football field - can be seen at the centre of the naval testing site. Russia is believed to have over 6,000 nuclear warheads in total spread across the country. These include the Kh-47M2 Dagger, the SSC-X-9 Skyfall and even the super heavy hypersonic missile known as the RS-28 Satan II. Oreshnik blitz One of the most terrifying weapons in the Kremlin's arsenal is their hypersonic Oreshnik missile. The intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) travels at Mach 10 - or 7,600mph - and can strike targets up to 5,000km away. The weapon was used in Dnipro, Ukraine in November 2024, marking its battlefield debut. It was launched after Kyiv used US-made ATACMS missiles on Russian territory for the first time. Back in March, Putin was again urged to unleash the Oreshnik by a Kremlin mouthpiece after suffering a major setback in his invasion. 16 The Oreshnik has been used before in Ukraine with frightening results 16 Video purported to show the strikes above Dnipro in Ukraine Ukraine launched the biggest drone attack on Moscow since the start of Russia's war made up if 337 drones. In response, former Russian deputy defence minister Col-Gen Andrey Kartapolov said it would not be "unreasonable" to launch more than one of the devastating missiles. HUR Chief Kyrylo Budanov said if his officers feared such a powerful weapon was on the brink of being used then he would send out an urgent warning. Despite the concerns of an impending strike, a top intelligence official in Ukraine has said they do not expect a Oreshnik to be launched. Launch the 50,000-troop Kharkiv offensive Russia is summer offensive into Kharkiv, it was reported last week. In April, Ukraine's military claimed the Kremlin was amassing troops to prepare a renewed assault on Ukraine's second largest city. Andrii Pomahaibus, the chief of staff of Ukraine's 13th National Guard Khartiia Brigade, said in May: "The enemy is trying to pull its personnel closer to the line of combat contact and conduct at least some assault actions." Experts fear so he can pull off a major Russian offensive. 16 Kharkiv has been fiercely contested throughout the conflict Credit: Getty 16 Russian soldiers line up during a military parade Credit: Reuters 16 But if Vlad can throw another 50,000 fighters into battle and continue his meatgrinder tactics then it could overwhelm an already depleted Ukraine. Military analysts believe he is trying to gain as much stolen land as possible so he can go to the negotiating table with complete control. They also warn Putin only has a "four-month window" to get a breakthrough in Ukraine this year. And Ukraine's Spiderweb strikes could spark the beginning of a summer offensive targeting the border city of Kharkiv. The region has been fiercely contested throughout the conflict and is known as the "fortress" city after Ukraine put up the maximum resistance to keep hold of it. Increased airstrikes across Ukraine Russia has already launched dozens of airstrikes and drone attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities since he was humiliated on the weekend. He has made use of his impervious weapons throughout the gruelling war and has attempted to throw everything at his enemy. But with Ukraine dealing a major blow to Russia's aircraft in their attack it could cause the despot to unleash even more fury. Dozens of Ukrainian regions have faced countless airstrikes since February 2022 from the capital of Kyiv to the port city of Odesa. Almost every night Russian blasts have been reported by civilians. Mad Vlad may now decide it is the time to step up this already rampant aggression to put Ukraine to the sword. The The Kremlin is also investing in building new launch sites, a source in Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) revealed. The record number of drones launched by Putin's men currently sits at 472. They also have around 70 strategic bombers at their disposal which could all be used to spread carnage across residential blocks. Ditch peace talks and rule out a future ceasefire The final way that Putin could respond to Ukraine is through a non-lethal yet crippling manner off the battlefield. Russia has a far greater number of weapons and troops meaning the longer the war goes on for the more likely they are to outlast Ukraine, experts believe. Despite Kyiv remaining strong across the past three and a half years, they have relied on international aid from the US, UK and Nato forces to keep them in the fight. These same global partners have also been 16 Previous talks between Russia and Ukraine on May 16 Credit: AFP 16 Despite peace talks constant fighting has carried on in Ukraine Credit: Reuters Led by Trump, Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, a surging amount of pressure is being applied on Putin to negotiate. So far, he has rejected all attempts to have a face-to-face meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky about halting the invasion. Instead, sending a But Putin may now decide to completely pull Russia out of any conversations aiming to end the war. He may use the spiderweb strike as a chance to pull out of negotiations and claim it shows Ukraine doesn't want or deserve peace. This would force Nato and Ukraine's allies to react. This could involve an increased military backing of Kyiv or tougher sanctions being imposed on Moscow. Spies step up sabotage strikes Putin is known to have a team full of shady spies littered across Europe. The latest group are the And warnings are starting to come out of Ukraine about Russia ramping up its recruitment process. Artem Dekhtyarenko, an SBU spokesman, said: "The enemy is trying to recruit Ukrainians by posing as the Security Service of Ukraine." In recent weeks the number of reported recruitment drives has skyrocketed, he added. The genuine SBU has reportedly been actively seeking out these Russian liars to prevent the spread of harmful misinformation. 16 Artem Dekhtyarenko, an SBU spokesman, has warned Russia is using a new spy tactic to infiltrate Ukraine Credit: Facebook 16
