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Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
What to know about Ukraine's stunning ‘Operation Spider Web'
Ukraine this weekend struck one of its most devastating blows in its grinding war against Russia's invading army, using smuggled drones to target bombers on air bases deep inside Russian territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly took credit for what he called 'Operation Spider Web,' a contrast with many of Ukraine's attacks inside Russia. He said 117 drones were used in the attack Sunday, each with its own operator back in Ukraine. Zelensky said the drone attacks took out nearly a third of Moscow's fleet of bomber aircraft, which has rained terror on his country for more than three years. Ukraine's security services said 41 Russian aircraft were destroyed or damaged. Russian military bloggers put the figure lower, with the prominent Rybar account saying 13 Russian aircraft were damaged. Here's what to know about the stunning attacks: Ukraine said 'Operation Spider Web' was started 18 months ago, in what military experts called a remarkable feat of logistics, espionage and military cunning. The bomb-laden drones were hidden in what Reuters reported were the roofs of wooden sheds. These sheds were loaded onto 18-wheelers and parked near military bases as deep into Russia as Siberia. The roof panels were then remotely lifted up, so the drones could fly out and stealthily begin their attack. The operation likely required recruiting Russians to assist throughout the smuggling network, without alerting Moscow's sprawling spy services. It underlines how Ukraine has transformed modern warfare with its use of drones on the battlefield, one aspect of the war that does not rely on U.S. support. Videos ricocheted across the internet after the attacks, showing explosions at air bases across Russia. Russia's defense minister said airfields were attacked in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur regions of the country. The New York Times said it verified a video showing two drones take off from containers on the back of a semitruck within 4 miles from a Russian military base, with smoke plumes visible in the distance. Other images showed what appeared to be Tu-95 strategic bombers on fire. The operation did not stop Russian and Ukrainian envoys from meeting for another round of talks Monday, in which they were set to exchange broad plans to end the war. Zelensky said documents were swapped after the talks finished, and suggested a new prisoner swap is in the works. If the scale of Ukraine's attack is confirmed, 'Operation Spider Web' could be Ukraine's most damaging drone attack of the war. Ukraine's security service estimated the strikes dealt Russia $7 billion in damage. While experts say the operation could significantly degrade Russia's capacity to wage aerial assault on Ukraine, it is unlikely to shift Russian President Vladimir Putin's strategy or resolve. Those involved in the attacks were withdrawn from Russia before they were carried out, Zelensky said. However, Russia's defense ministry said it had detained an undisclosed number of 'participants in the terrorist attacks,' the Financial Times reported, citing state media. Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 472 drones over Ukraine overnight Sunday, in one of its largest drone attacks in the war, with explosions reported in the cities of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, and strikes on at least 18 locations. Neither Putin nor the Kremlin have publicly addressed the attacks, and state media outlets made little mention of them as of Monday morning in the U.S. President Trump was not informed ahead of time of the drone attacks, a Trump administration official told The Hill's sister network NewsNation on Sunday. If Ukraine's timeline is correct, the plan was in the works when Trump told Zelensky in February that he had 'no cards' in negotiations to end the war. Trump had not publicly remarked on the attacks as of 11 a.m. EDT Monday. Trump has ramped up criticism of Putin in recent days. The president last week wrote on social media that Putin had gone 'absolutely CRAZY' and warned he was 'playing with fire' with continued strikes on Ukrainian cities. Ukraine, unlike Russia, has agreed to a U.S. proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Kyiv has also signed a framework deal for the U.S. to recoup any future spending on Ukraine's military with proceeds from natural resource extraction after the war. Trump has at times blamed Putin, Zelensky and former President Biden for the war, and has warned the U.S. will walk away from peace talks if there's no progress toward a deal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
What to know about Ukraine's stunning ‘Operation Spider Web'
Ukraine this weekend struck one of its most devastating blows in its grinding war against Russia's invading army, using smuggled drones to target bombers on air bases deep inside Russian territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly took credit for what he called 'Operation Spider Web,' a contrast with many of Ukraine's attacks inside Russia. He said 117 drones were used in the attack on Sunday, each with its own operator back in Ukraine. Zelensky said the drone attacks took out nearly a third of Moscow's fleet of bomber aircraft, which has reined terror on his country for more than three years. Ukraine's security services said that 41 Russian aircraft were destroyed or damaged. Russian military bloggers put the figure lower, with the prominent Rybar account saying 13 Russian aircraft were damaged. Here's what to know about the stunning attacks: Ukraine said 'Operation Spider Web' was started 18 months ago, in what military experts called a remarkable feat of logistics, espionage and military cunning. The bomb-laden drones were hidden in what Reuters reported were the roofs of wooden sheds. These sheds were loaded onto 18-wheelers and parked near military bases as deep into Russia as Siberia. The roof panels were then remotely lifted up, so the drones could fly out and stealthily begin their attack. The operation likely required recruiting Russians to assist throughout the smuggling network, without alerting Moscow's sprawling spy services. It underlines how Ukraine has transformed modern warfare with its use of drones on the battlefield; one aspect of the war that does not rely on U.S. support. Videos ricocheted across the internet after the attacks, showing explosions at air bases across Russia. Russia's defense minister said airfields were attacked in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur regions of the country. The New York Times said it verified a video showing two drones take off from containers on the back of a semi-truck within four miles from a Russian military base, with smoke plumes visible in the distance. Other images showed what appeared to be Tu-95 strategic bombers on fire. The operation did not stop Russian and Ukrainian envoys from meeting for another round of talks on Monday, in which they were set to exchange broad plans to end the war. Zelensky said documents were swapped after the talks finished, and suggested a new prisoner swap is in the works. If the scale of Ukraine's attack is confirmed, 'Operation Spider Web' could be Ukraine's most damaging drone attack of the war. Ukraine's security service estimated the strikes dealt Russia $7 billion in damage. While experts say the operation could significantly degrade Russia's capacity to wage aerial assault on Ukraine, it is unlikely to shift Russian President Vladimir Putin's strategy or resolve. Those involved in the attacks were withdrawn from Russia before they were carried out, Zelensky said. However, Russia's defense ministry said it had detained an undisclosed number of 'participants in the terrorist attacks,' the Financial Times reported, citing state media. Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 472 drones over Ukraine overnight on Sunday, in one of its largest drone attacks in the war, with explosions reported in the cities of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, and strikes on at least 18 locations. Neither Putin nor the Kremlin have publicly addressed the attacks, and state media outlets made little mention of them as of Monday morning EST. President Trump was not informed ahead of time of the drone attacks, a Trump administration official told The Hill's sister network NewsNation on Sunday. If Ukraine's timeline is correct, the plan was in the works when Trump told Zelensky in February that he had 'no cards' in negotiations to end the war. Trump had not publicly remarked on the attacks as of 11 a.m. Monday. Trump has ramped up criticism of Putin in recent days. The president last week wrote on social media that Putin had gone 'absolutely CRAZY' and warned he was 'playing with fire' with continued strikes on Ukrainian cities. Ukraine, unlike Russia, has agreed to a U.S. proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Kyiv has also signed a framework deal for the U.S. to recoup any future spending on Ukraine's military with proceeds from natural resource extraction after the war. Trump has at times blamed Putin, Zelensky and President Biden for the war, and has warned the U.S. will walk away from peace talks if there's no progress toward a deal.
Gulf Insider
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Is Syria Headed Toward Balkanization? Growing Tensions Spark Global Warnings
The situation remains very combustible and could easily explode at the slightest spark… Russia and the US rarely agree on much, but their top diplomats just sounded the alarm about Syria, which should convince objective observers that there's credence to their warnings. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that 'The situation in the Middle East is particularly troubling, especially in Syria, where groups of radical militants commit real acts of ethnic cleansing and mass executions on ethnic and religious grounds.' This was a reference to March's Kristallnacht-like killings of Syria's Alawite minority. As for Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he said that 'It is our assessment that, frankly, the transitional authority, given the challenges they're facing, are maybe weeks — not many months — away from potential collapse and a full-scale civil war of epic proportions, basically the country splitting up.' He was likely alluding not only to the mass killings of Syria's Alawites, but recent tensions with the Druze minority and potential problems in implementing spring's national reintegration deal with the Kurds. Prior to these top diplomats' warnings, there was some cautious optimism about Syria's future after Russia was able to retain its bases there for the time being, Trump met Jolani/Sharaa, and the US and then the EU lifted sanctions on Syria. Nevertheless, the aforesaid three positive developments were still overshadowed by the abovementioned problems, which pair with the Israeli-Turkish rivalry in Syria to create a very combustible situation. To make matters worse, Russia's Khmeimim airbase was recently attacked by what Russian milblog Rybar claimed were Uzbek militants, who might have gone rogue for whatever reason but Rybar suspects that they actually intended to send a plausibly deniable hostile message from the new authorities. Whatever their true motivation might be, it shows how volatile the situation remains in Syria, which could prompt all relevant foreign stakeholders into seriously considering their contingency plans there. Also Read: US Removes Syria Sanctions In Implementation Of Trump's 'Fresh Start' Vision
Yomiuri Shimbun
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Russia and Ukraine Accuse One Another of Ceasefire Violations
Reuters Russian soldiers, who were involved in the country's military campaign in Ukraine, march in columns during a parade on Victory Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2025. MOSCOW, May 9 (Reuters) – Ukrainian troops have made further attempts to breach the Russian border in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Friday as President Vladimir Putin hosted world leaders at a major military parade in Moscow. The Defence Ministry said the attacks occurred during a three-day ceasefire running from May 8-10 that Russia has unilaterally declared to mark the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. Ukraine has called the ceasefire a 'farce' and on Friday documented scores of armed clashes. It noted in particular, northeastern Sumy region, site of some of the heaviest Russian assaults in recent weeks, saying there had been no letup during the Kremlin-inspired ceasefire. 'There has been no 'ceasefire' in Sumy region on the 8th or 9th of May. Over the two days Russia has killed three civilians,the region's military administration said on Telegram. Ukraine's military, in its account late on Friday of battlefield operations, said 162 armed clashes had been recorded over the past 24 hours, with the Kremlin ceasefire in effect, along with 22 air strikes and 956 drone attacks. It noted heavy fighting near Pokrovsk, a logistics hub in eastern Ukraine targeted by Moscow's troops for months. Russian forces had attempted to break through Ukrainian lines 51 times. The Russian Defence Ministry account said it had registered four attempts by Ukrainian forces to smash through the border into the Kursk and Belgorod regions in the past week. In eastern Ukraine, Kyiv's troops had attacked Russian forces 15 times during the ceasefire, the ministry said. Ukraine has said Russia had repeatedly breached its own truce this week. The governor of the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region said on Friday that Russia hit eight Ukrainian frontline villages 220 times since the ceasefire went into effect. In Russia's Belgorod border region, the local governor said a Ukrainian drone had attacked a government building on Friday. In Kursk, Ukrainian troops launched a major incursion last August and held onto a chunk of Russian territory for many months as Moscow's forces battled to eject them with help from North Korean soldiers. Some fighting has continued, even after Putin last month declared 'victory' in Kursk. Ukraine said its troops had repelled 19 attacks in the region. Rybar, a pro-Russian war blogger, said there was 'high-intensity fighting' between Russian and Ukrainian troops near Tetkino, a village in the region. Rybar and other bloggers said Ukrainian attacks on multiple villages in the neighbouring Belgorod region were continuing on Friday. Reuters could not independently verify statements by war bloggers or battlefield reports from either side. Ukraine and Russia both accused the other of repeatedly violating a previous 30-hour Easter ceasefire declared by Putin.
The Advertiser
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Both Russia and Ukraine accused of ceasefire violations
Ukrainian troops have made further attempts to breach the Russian border in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the Russian Defence Ministry says, as President Vladimir Putin hosted world leaders at a major military parade in Moscow. The Defence Ministry said the attacks occurred on Friday during a three-day ceasefire running from Thursday to Saturday that Russia has unilaterally declared to mark the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Ukraine has called the ceasefire a "farce" and on Friday documented scores of armed clashes. It noted in particular, northeastern Sumy region, site of some of the heaviest Russian assaults in recent weeks, saying there had been no letup during the Kremlin-inspired ceasefire. "There has been no 'ceasefire' in Sumy region on the 8th or 9th of May. Over the two days Russia has killed three civilians, the region's military administration said on Telegram. Ukraine's military, in its account late on Friday of battlefield operations, said 162 armed clashes had been recorded over the past 24 hours, with the Kremlin ceasefire in effect, along with 22 air strikes and 956 drone attacks. It noted heavy fighting near Pokrovsk, a logistics hub in eastern Ukraine targeted by Moscow's troops for months. Russian forces had attempted to break through Ukrainian lines 51 times. The Russian Defence Ministry account said it had registered four attempts by Ukrainian forces to smash through the border into the Kursk and Belgorod regions in the past week. In eastern Ukraine, Kyiv's troops had attacked Russian forces 15 times during the ceasefire, the ministry said. Ukraine has said Russia had repeatedly breached its own truce this week. The governor of the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region said on Friday that Russia hit eight Ukrainian frontline villages 220 times since the ceasefire went into effect. In Russia's Belgorod border region, the local governor said a Ukrainian drone had attacked a government building on Friday. In Kursk, Ukrainian troops launched a major incursion in August and held onto a chunk of Russian territory for many months as Moscow's forces battled to eject them with help from North Korean soldiers. Some fighting has continued, even after Putin in April declared "victory" in Kursk. Ukraine said its troops had repelled 19 attacks in the region. Rybar, a pro-Russian war blogger, said there was "high-intensity fighting" between Russian and Ukrainian troops near Tetkino, a village in the region. Rybar and other bloggers said Ukrainian attacks on multiple villages in the neighbouring Belgorod region were continuing on Friday. Reuters could not independently verify statements by war bloggers or battlefield reports from either side. Ukraine and Russia both accused the other of repeatedly violating a previous 30-hour Easter ceasefire declared by Putin. Ukrainian troops have made further attempts to breach the Russian border in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the Russian Defence Ministry says, as President Vladimir Putin hosted world leaders at a major military parade in Moscow. The Defence Ministry said the attacks occurred on Friday during a three-day ceasefire running from Thursday to Saturday that Russia has unilaterally declared to mark the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Ukraine has called the ceasefire a "farce" and on Friday documented scores of armed clashes. It noted in particular, northeastern Sumy region, site of some of the heaviest Russian assaults in recent weeks, saying there had been no letup during the Kremlin-inspired ceasefire. "There has been no 'ceasefire' in Sumy region on the 8th or 9th of May. Over the two days Russia has killed three civilians, the region's military administration said on Telegram. Ukraine's military, in its account late on Friday of battlefield operations, said 162 armed clashes had been recorded over the past 24 hours, with the Kremlin ceasefire in effect, along with 22 air strikes and 956 drone attacks. It noted heavy fighting near Pokrovsk, a logistics hub in eastern Ukraine targeted by Moscow's troops for months. Russian forces had attempted to break through Ukrainian lines 51 times. The Russian Defence Ministry account said it had registered four attempts by Ukrainian forces to smash through the border into the Kursk and Belgorod regions in the past week. In eastern Ukraine, Kyiv's troops had attacked Russian forces 15 times during the ceasefire, the ministry said. Ukraine has said Russia had repeatedly breached its own truce this week. The governor of the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region said on Friday that Russia hit eight Ukrainian frontline villages 220 times since the ceasefire went into effect. In Russia's Belgorod border region, the local governor said a Ukrainian drone had attacked a government building on Friday. In Kursk, Ukrainian troops launched a major incursion in August and held onto a chunk of Russian territory for many months as Moscow's forces battled to eject them with help from North Korean soldiers. Some fighting has continued, even after Putin in April declared "victory" in Kursk. Ukraine said its troops had repelled 19 attacks in the region. Rybar, a pro-Russian war blogger, said there was "high-intensity fighting" between Russian and Ukrainian troops near Tetkino, a village in the region. Rybar and other bloggers said Ukrainian attacks on multiple villages in the neighbouring Belgorod region were continuing on Friday. Reuters could not independently verify statements by war bloggers or battlefield reports from either side. Ukraine and Russia both accused the other of repeatedly violating a previous 30-hour Easter ceasefire declared by Putin. Ukrainian troops have made further attempts to breach the Russian border in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the Russian Defence Ministry says, as President Vladimir Putin hosted world leaders at a major military parade in Moscow. The Defence Ministry said the attacks occurred on Friday during a three-day ceasefire running from Thursday to Saturday that Russia has unilaterally declared to mark the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Ukraine has called the ceasefire a "farce" and on Friday documented scores of armed clashes. It noted in particular, northeastern Sumy region, site of some of the heaviest Russian assaults in recent weeks, saying there had been no letup during the Kremlin-inspired ceasefire. "There has been no 'ceasefire' in Sumy region on the 8th or 9th of May. Over the two days Russia has killed three civilians, the region's military administration said on Telegram. Ukraine's military, in its account late on Friday of battlefield operations, said 162 armed clashes had been recorded over the past 24 hours, with the Kremlin ceasefire in effect, along with 22 air strikes and 956 drone attacks. It noted heavy fighting near Pokrovsk, a logistics hub in eastern Ukraine targeted by Moscow's troops for months. Russian forces had attempted to break through Ukrainian lines 51 times. The Russian Defence Ministry account said it had registered four attempts by Ukrainian forces to smash through the border into the Kursk and Belgorod regions in the past week. In eastern Ukraine, Kyiv's troops had attacked Russian forces 15 times during the ceasefire, the ministry said. Ukraine has said Russia had repeatedly breached its own truce this week. The governor of the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region said on Friday that Russia hit eight Ukrainian frontline villages 220 times since the ceasefire went into effect. In Russia's Belgorod border region, the local governor said a Ukrainian drone had attacked a government building on Friday. In Kursk, Ukrainian troops launched a major incursion in August and held onto a chunk of Russian territory for many months as Moscow's forces battled to eject them with help from North Korean soldiers. Some fighting has continued, even after Putin in April declared "victory" in Kursk. Ukraine said its troops had repelled 19 attacks in the region. Rybar, a pro-Russian war blogger, said there was "high-intensity fighting" between Russian and Ukrainian troops near Tetkino, a village in the region. Rybar and other bloggers said Ukrainian attacks on multiple villages in the neighbouring Belgorod region were continuing on Friday. Reuters could not independently verify statements by war bloggers or battlefield reports from either side. Ukraine and Russia both accused the other of repeatedly violating a previous 30-hour Easter ceasefire declared by Putin. Ukrainian troops have made further attempts to breach the Russian border in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the Russian Defence Ministry says, as President Vladimir Putin hosted world leaders at a major military parade in Moscow. The Defence Ministry said the attacks occurred on Friday during a three-day ceasefire running from Thursday to Saturday that Russia has unilaterally declared to mark the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Ukraine has called the ceasefire a "farce" and on Friday documented scores of armed clashes. It noted in particular, northeastern Sumy region, site of some of the heaviest Russian assaults in recent weeks, saying there had been no letup during the Kremlin-inspired ceasefire. "There has been no 'ceasefire' in Sumy region on the 8th or 9th of May. Over the two days Russia has killed three civilians, the region's military administration said on Telegram. Ukraine's military, in its account late on Friday of battlefield operations, said 162 armed clashes had been recorded over the past 24 hours, with the Kremlin ceasefire in effect, along with 22 air strikes and 956 drone attacks. It noted heavy fighting near Pokrovsk, a logistics hub in eastern Ukraine targeted by Moscow's troops for months. Russian forces had attempted to break through Ukrainian lines 51 times. The Russian Defence Ministry account said it had registered four attempts by Ukrainian forces to smash through the border into the Kursk and Belgorod regions in the past week. In eastern Ukraine, Kyiv's troops had attacked Russian forces 15 times during the ceasefire, the ministry said. Ukraine has said Russia had repeatedly breached its own truce this week. The governor of the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region said on Friday that Russia hit eight Ukrainian frontline villages 220 times since the ceasefire went into effect. In Russia's Belgorod border region, the local governor said a Ukrainian drone had attacked a government building on Friday. In Kursk, Ukrainian troops launched a major incursion in August and held onto a chunk of Russian territory for many months as Moscow's forces battled to eject them with help from North Korean soldiers. Some fighting has continued, even after Putin in April declared "victory" in Kursk. Ukraine said its troops had repelled 19 attacks in the region. Rybar, a pro-Russian war blogger, said there was "high-intensity fighting" between Russian and Ukrainian troops near Tetkino, a village in the region. Rybar and other bloggers said Ukrainian attacks on multiple villages in the neighbouring Belgorod region were continuing on Friday. Reuters could not independently verify statements by war bloggers or battlefield reports from either side. Ukraine and Russia both accused the other of repeatedly violating a previous 30-hour Easter ceasefire declared by Putin.
