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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
5 ways Ukraine's audacious 'Spiderweb' drone attack marks a new threat for top militaries
Ukraine's latest attack on Russian airfields has written a new chapter for drone tactics. Operatives snuck the drones into Russia and remotely launched them near bases, Ukraine says. These tactics highlight vulnerabilities for the world's most advanced militaries. The new tactics deployed by Ukraine in striking a claimed 41 Russian warplanes have devastating implications — not only for Russia's air power but for all advanced militaries, defense experts told Business Insider. "This attack is a window to future war," James Patton Rogers, a drone expert and executive director of the Cornell Brooks Tech Policy Institute, told BI. Ukraine has attacked Russia with drones many times before. But on Sunday, its Security Service, or SBU, targeted four Russian airfields simultaneously with a wildly creative gambit it dubbed "Operation Spiderweb." According to the SBU, operatives smuggled the military quadcopters into Russia, later packing them into wooden house-like structures. These were then mounted on trucks, which were driven close to the airfields, where the drones were launched, causing a claimed $7 billion in damage. The proximity and number of small attack drones appear to have given air defense crews little, if any, chance to respond. While details of the attack need to be independently confirmed, initial visual information suggests that this is "a stunning success for Ukraine's special services," said Justin Bronk, an influential air power expert at the Royal United Services Institute. Here's what it could mean for Russia and the Ukraine war — and the rest of the world. Ukraine's previous drone attacks have frequently been countered by Russia's advanced air defense systems, like its S-300 and S-400 missile launchers. But, it seems, these latest drones didn't need to run the S-400 gauntlet. Rather than flying larger, long-range drones through Russian airspace from Ukraine, the SBU said they trucked the containers out to the airfields, activating the smuggled drones after remotely retracting the roofs to release them. With a much-shortened and simplified journey to their target, the drones struck warplanes at the airfields of Belaya, Diaghilev, Olenya, and Ivanovo, per the SBU. Lithuania's former foreign minister, Gabrelius Landsbergis, said on Monday that the attack shows Ukraine's ability to innovate and surprise the world. "Its scale and ingenuity — carried out without visible Western intelligence or logistical support — suggests Ukraine is now less reliant on outside help," he wrote. (Ukraine's Western backers, like the US, have resisted providing the weaponry and intelligence Ukraine has sought for retaliation against Russian bases, from which it launches regular attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure and defensive lines.) Powered largely by domestically-produced armaments, Ukraine once again innovated "while the world talks, hosts meetings, and forms yet another 'coalition of the willing,'" Landsbergis wrote. "Ukraine is preparing to fight on its own terms," he added. "If you ever wondered what strategic autonomy looks like — this might be it." Ukraine showed that its fleet of $150 million bombers on a runway can be made prey to the kind of cheap drones modified slightly from racing and wedding photos. Prior to these coordinated strikes, Ukraine's drone attacks on Russia have reached as far as 1,100 miles from their shared border. That distance is dwarfed by the reach of Sunday's attack, where the farthest airfield, at Belaya in the eastern-central Irkutsk region, was more than 2,500 miles from Ukraine. Russia likely viewed bases far from Ukraine as being at less risk of attack. Bronk said that even if only half of the claimed 41 planes were damaged or destroyed, it would have a "significant impact" on Russia's ability to launch long-range cruise missile attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. Bronk estimates that Russia had around 60 active Tu-95 "Bear" bombers and around 20 Tu-160 "Blackjack" bombers involved in this aerial campaign, and said replacing damaged planes will be a huge challenge, as production on both models has either slowed or halted completely in recent decades. Videos and images from the attack show that the planes were parked in the open air, outside of any shelter. This may have made them an easy target. Satellite images have suggested that this is a point of some anxiety for Russia, which appears to have tried to pile tires onto the wings of its bombers to try to trick visual guidance systems. An aircraft on the ground is highly vulnerable to attack and is wholly dependent on airborne aircraft and nearby air defenses. Russia is not the only country with this issue. While China reportedly has enough hardened air shelters to house the majority of its combat aircraft, the US has invested far less in this capability. Ukraine didn't detail how it successfully smuggled the drones past Russian authorities. But the fact it did so "highlights the vulnerability of Russian transport and logistics system," Patton Rogers told BI. "The question for Russia must be, how many more are lying in wait?" he said. Meanwhile, Russia has shown itself quick to learn throughout the war, which could worry the West. The attack is a "stark reminder" of a new phase in war, Karl Rosander, CEO and cofounder of Swedish defence tech startup Nordic Air Defence, said in emailed comments. "One where drones can be covertly deployed and lie dormant behind enemy lines, waiting to strike." It's "only a matter of time" before the tactic is taken up by Russia and other hostile state actors, he added. The implications of this are wide-ranging. An air base needs a combination of armored shelters for aircraft, electronic jammers to disrupt drone guidance systems, and enough missiles or guns to shoot them down. All are costs measured in billions of dollars — and Ukraine has just devised a new threat costing in the mere thousands. Patton Rogers questioned how vulnerable NATO air bases are to such attacks, while pointing out how the tactic could be adopted elsewhere. "Drones won't be confined to a set battlefield," he told BI. While long-range drones will continue to strike, weaponized short-range drones will be "hidden and waiting for launch" to attack deep inside adversary territory, he said. "The question is, are NATO allies ready for this new reality?" Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
5 ways Ukraine's audacious 'Spiderweb' drone attack marks a new threat for top militaries
The new tactics deployed by Ukraine in striking a claimed 41 Russian warplanes have devastating implications — not only for Russia's air power but for all advanced militaries, defense experts told Business Insider. "This attack is a window to future war," James Patton Rogers, a drone expert and executive director of the Cornell Brooks Tech Policy Institute, told BI. Ukraine has attacked Russia with drones many times before. But on Sunday, its Security Service, or SBU, targeted four Russian airfields simultaneously with a wildly creative gambit it dubbed "Operation Spiderweb." According to the SBU, operatives smuggled the military quadcopters into Russia, later packing them into wooden house-like structures. These were then mounted on trucks, which were driven close to the airfields, where the drones were launched, causing a claimed $7 billion in damage. The proximity and number of small attack drones appear to have given air defense crews little, if any, chance to respond. While details of the attack need to be independently confirmed, initial visual information suggests that this is "a stunning success for Ukraine's special services," said Justin Bronk, an influential air power expert at the Royal United Services Institute. Here's what it could mean for Russia and the Ukraine war — and the rest of the world. Limiting conventional air defences Ukraine's previous drone attacks have frequently been countered by Russia's advanced air defense systems, like its S-300 and S-400 missile launchers. But, it seems, these latest drones didn't need to run the S-400 gauntlet. Rather than flying larger, long-range drones through Russian airspace from Ukraine, the SBU said they trucked the containers out to the airfields, activating the smuggled drones after remotely retracting the roofs to release them. With a much-shortened and simplified journey to their target, the drones struck warplanes at the airfields of Belaya, Diaghilev, Olenya, and Ivanovo, per the SBU. A powerful statement of Ukraine going it alone Lithuania's former foreign minister, Gabrelius Landsbergis, said on Monday that the attack shows Ukraine's ability to innovate and surprise the world. "Its scale and ingenuity — carried out without visible Western intelligence or logistical support — suggests Ukraine is now less reliant on outside help," he wrote. (Ukraine's Western backers, like the US, have resisted providing the weaponry and intelligence Ukraine has sought for retaliation against Russian bases, from which it launches regular attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure and defensive lines.) Powered largely by domestically-produced armaments, Ukraine once again innovated "while the world talks, hosts meetings, and forms yet another 'coalition of the willing,'" Landsbergis wrote. "Ukraine is preparing to fight on its own terms," he added. "If you ever wondered what strategic autonomy looks like — this might be it." Ukraine showed that its fleet of $150 million bombers on a runway can be made prey to the kind of cheap drones modified slightly from racing and wedding photos. It enables Ukraine to hit deeper into Russia Prior to these coordinated strikes, Ukraine's drone attacks on Russia have reached as far as 1,100 miles from their shared border. That distance is dwarfed by the reach of Sunday's attack, where the farthest airfield, at Belaya in the eastern-central Irkutsk region, was more than 2,500 miles from Ukraine. Russia likely viewed bases far from Ukraine as being at less risk of attack. Bronk said that even if only half of the claimed 41 planes were damaged or destroyed, it would have a "significant impact" on Russia's ability to launch long-range cruise missile attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. Bronk estimates that Russia had around 60 active Tu-95 "Bear" bombers and around 20 Tu-160 "Blackjack" bombers involved in this aerial campaign, and said replacing damaged planes will be a huge challenge, as production on both models has either slowed or halted completely in recent decades. No hard shelter for planes Videos and images from the attack show that the planes were parked in the open air, outside of any shelter. This may have made them an easy target. Satellite images have suggested that this is a point of some anxiety for Russia, which appears to have tried to pile tires onto the wings of its bombers to try to trick visual guidance systems. An aircraft on the ground is highly vulnerable to attack and is wholly dependent on airborne aircraft and nearby air defenses. Russia is not the only country with this issue. While China reportedly has enough hardened air shelters to house the majority of its combat aircraft, the US has invested far less in this capability. 'Sleeper' drones Ukraine didn't detail how it successfully smuggled the drones past Russian authorities. But the fact it did so "highlights the vulnerability of Russian transport and logistics system," Patton Rogers told BI. "The question for Russia must be, how many more are lying in wait?" he said. Meanwhile, Russia has shown itself quick to learn throughout the war, which could worry the West. The attack is a "stark reminder" of a new phase in war, Karl Rosander, CEO and cofounder of Swedish defence tech startup Nordic Air Defence, said in emailed comments. "One where drones can be covertly deployed and lie dormant behind enemy lines, waiting to strike." It's "only a matter of time" before the tactic is taken up by Russia and other hostile state actors, he added. The implications of this are wide-ranging. An air base needs a combination of armored shelters for aircraft, electronic jammers to disrupt drone guidance systems, and enough missiles or guns to shoot them down. All are costs measured in billions of dollars — and Ukraine has just devised a new threat costing in the mere thousands. Patton Rogers questioned how vulnerable NATO air bases are to such attacks, while pointing out how the tactic could be adopted elsewhere. "Drones won't be confined to a set battlefield," he told BI. While long-range drones will continue to strike, weaponized short-range drones will be "hidden and waiting for launch" to attack deep inside adversary territory, he said. "The question is, are NATO allies ready for this new reality?"
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
The Hungary-Ukraine spy scandal and Russia's possible role, explained
Ukraine's rocky relationship with Hungary reached new lows this month with the uncovering of an alleged spy ring run from Budapest. Arrests, tit-for-tat expulsions, and a stream of accusations from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban soon followed in a diplomatic scandal with potentially massive ramifications for both countries. "This is probably the most-discussed Ukraine-related news (in Hungary) since the beginning of the full-scale invasion," Andras Racz, a senior fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) Center for Security and Defense, told the Kyiv Independent. "It's truly unprecedented," he added. Adding to the intrigue are the questions looming over the motives of the alleged spies, who were allegedly tasked with gathering sensitive military information that would be highly valuable to one country in particular — Russia. Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) on May 9 said it had uncovered a Hungarian espionage network in western Ukraine in what was the first case of its kind. SBU counterintelligence detained two alleged agents and identified their supervisor as a Hungarian military intelligence officer. According to the SBU, one of those detained is a 40-year-old former Ukrainian military officer who was recruited by Hungarian intelligence in 2021 and placed in standby mode. Kyiv has long accused Budapest of undermining Ukraine's sovereignty through political interference and pursuing an active policy of issuing Hungarian passports to ethnic Hungarians in the region. They claim he was "activated" in September 2024 when he began to conduct reconnaissance on the deployment of Ukrainian Armed Forces and the coordinates of S-300 air defense systems in the region. The spies' tasks also included identifying official vehicles belonging to Ukraine's army, and gathering data on the presence of aircraft and helicopters in Zakarpattia Oblast. They were also tasked with gauging local attitudes to various scenarios including the deployment of a Hungarian "peacekeeping contingent." At the center of the spy scandal is Ukraine's Zakarpattia Oblast, a region that has long been home to a large ethnic Hungarian minority that numbered 70,000-80,000 in 2024. Relations between Ukraine and Hungary have been historically strained because of issues relating to Zakarpattia Oblast — Kyiv has long accused Budapest of undermining Ukraine's sovereignty through political interference and pursuing an active policy of issuing Hungarian passports to ethnic Hungarians in the region. In turn, Budapest accuses Kyiv of discriminating against the Hungarian ethnic minority there, especially over Ukraine's language laws that require at least 70% of education above fifth grade to be conducted in Ukrainian. While Budapest has called this measure discriminatory toward the Hungarian minority, Kyiv denies it is discriminatory, saying it only aims to ensure that every Ukrainian citizen has sufficient knowledge of the country's official language. These issues have taken on extra significance since the start of Ukraine's accession talks which formally launched in June 2024. Hungary — which as an existing member of the EU holds veto power over accession decisions — has held up the process, citing discrimination against its Hungarian minority as a key obstacle. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accused Ukraine of collaborating with his political opposition, Tisza party leader Peter Magyar, to orchestrate a campaign to discredit him ahead of a planned referendum on Kyiv's EU membership. The day before the SBU announcement, Magyar released an audio recording of a 2023 conversation in which Defense Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky talks of preparing the country's military for war — the opposite of what he and Orban had been saying in public, Magyar said. "Thus, the Hungarian opposition party took an active part in the special operation of the Ukrainian secret service," Orban said on May 13, adding: "Such a thing has never happened in our memory." Budapest also on May 9 expelled what it claimed were two "spies" working under diplomatic cover at Ukraine's embassy in Budapest, a move met with reciprocal expulsions by Kyiv. Another two Ukrainian "spies" were allegedly uncovered on May 20. After the scandal, Hungarian Deputy Foreign Minister Levente Magyar refused to come to Ukraine on May 12 for planned talks about the Hungarian national minority, Ukraine's Justice Ministry said on May 11. According to Racz, just the fact that Ukraine's SBU went public with the information is in itself significant. "Usually, espionage-related affairs are handled in a silent, non-public way. Even if there are expulsions, usually both sides are interested in minimizing tensions and the damage inflicted," Racz said. "Why would Budapest need the location and exact type of the air defense systems so much that they specifically instructed one of the agents to go there and take pictures of the installations? [...] I find no other plausible answer than Russia." And the timing of the announcement may also have been deliberate — according to Viktor Yahun, former deputy head of the SBU, the release of the information on May 9, Russia's Victory Day, was to "show once again how close the contacts and intentions of Hungary and Russia are." Complicating matters further is the fact that Orban is widely seen as the EU's most pro-Russian leader, and has repeatedly opposed military aid for Ukraine, arguing that Western support prolongs the war. He has maintained close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, holding official meetings despite the full-scale invasion and amplified Kremlin narratives in Europe. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has visited Russia 13 times in the past three years, far more than any other EU diplomat, and even more than some of Russia's closest allies. Read also: Hungarian FM visits Moscow, eyes further economic cooperation with Russia Largely because of this, Hungary has shifted into a "gray zone" regarding intelligence sharing with EU countries, Vitalii Diachuk, the Institute for Central European Strategy (ICES) analyst, told the Kyiv Independent. The intelligence exchange process became more formalized, and Hungary ceased receiving analytical intelligence from NATO and EU countries, and stopped providing any of its own intelligence related to Russia, he added. Diachuk said there was nothing irregular about a country collecting general intelligence on its neighbors "especially when there is a war going on," but said a line would be crossed if that information "poses a threat to Ukraine's national security." The SBU's claim that Hungarian spies were collecting information about Ukraine's air defenses would most certainly cross this line, Racz said "If the SBU's claims are well-grounded… then it is very hard to imagine why this information would be relevant for Hungary," he added. "Why would Budapest need the location and exact type of the air defense systems so much that they specifically instructed one of the agents to go there and take pictures of the installations?" Given the highly unlikely scenario that Hungary is planning to attack Ukraine and thus needs to know where its air defenses are located, the remaining possible explanations are limited. "At present, unfortunately, I find no other plausible answer than Russia," Racz said. Yahun told the Kyiv Independent that it's within the realm of possibility that Orban was acting under the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Some of my colleagues have said that it is possible that during Orban's meeting with Putin (in July 2024), he could have persuaded Orban to exchange some intelligence information that is sensitive to Hungary and Russia," Yahun said. Yahun also said it's unlikely that Orban didn't know about the spying operation given his closeness to Major General Norbert Tajti, the head of Hungary's Military National Security Service (KNBSZ). Before his appointment, he served in Hungary's Joint Forces Command and as Orban's aide in the Prime Minister's Office. "(Tajti) had been a personal assistant to Orban for three years. This means that this person is completely devoted to Orban, and any actions on his part could not have been operated independently," Yahun said. Racz also said that Orban's explanation — that the entire thing was an orchestrated campaign between Ukraine and his political opposition — is unlikely as Orban would not have missed the opportunity to present solid evidence and "frame Peter Magyar's Tisza party as a Ukrainian agent." The Kyiv Independent contacted the SBU to ask how long the alleged Hungarian spying operation had been ongoing, and if it was broader than just the two individuals already detained. "All information about the investigation that is currently permitted to be made public has already been posted on the official resources of the (SBU)," it said in a written statement. Read also: Ukraine attacks elite Russian unit base nearly 7,000km away in Vladivostok, source claims We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
India.com
10-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
When was India's defense shield S-400 purchased, which government took the initiative?
When was India's defense shield S-400 purchased, which government took the initiative? The Indian military on Saturday refuted all Pakistan's claim that its hypersonic missiles fired from JF-17 fighter jets destroyed India's S-400 air defence system in Adampur. Pakistan's state-run PTV earlier reported that Pakistan Air Force's hypersonic missiles destroyed the S-400 system in Adampur. S-400 has not only protected India from immediate threats but has also strengthened India's strategic power on the global stage. It has become an important part of India's defense in depth strategy. India's defence armour S-400 air defence system was purchased from Russia in 2018. This was initiated by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when India ignored the pressure of US and signed an agreement to buy five units from Russia. The deal was done for about $ 5.43 billion. The S-400 air defense system has become an important and strong shield in India's security shield. This system has become an impenetrable security for Indian borders amid air-based challenges from countries like Pakistan and China. Recently, incidents of drones sent from Pakistan being shot down in the air have come to light, in which the role of S-400 has been important. In such a situation, it is important to know when this system was made, which government bought it and why did India need it? Along with this, we will also know how and for how much it was bought. The S-400 air defence system was developed by Russian government-controlled company Almaz-Antey. Its production began in the 1990s and it was first inducted into the Russian army in 2007. The system became operational during the reign of then-President Vladimir Putin and quickly became the centre of Russia's military power. The system is an upgraded version of the S-300, which has the ability to track and destroy enemy missiles, drones and fighter jets from a distance of 400 kilometres. Why was there a need for S-400? India has always faced a dual challenge from Pakistan and China. There is a constant threat of drone, suicide and missile attacks from across the border from Pakistan. At the same time, tension and infiltration incidents are increasing on the LAC (Line of Actual Control) with China. India needed an air defense system that can detect the threat from a distance and neutralize it in seconds. The S-400's multi-tracking capability, high-range missiles and fast reaction time make it suitable for India's needs. How was the S-400 purchased? Talks between India and Russia regarding S-400 started in the year 2015. At that time Narendra Modi's government was at the center and the deal was given priority under the supervision of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. India signed an agreement with Russia in 2018 to buy 5 units of this system. During this time, America warned of imposing strict sanctions (CAATSA), but India gave priority to strategic strength and made a deal with Russia. How much was S-400 purchased for? India bought 5 S-400 units from Russia for around $5.43 billion (about Rs 39,000 crore). This defense agreement is one of the most expensive deals in India's history. The cost of one unit is more than $1 billion. Its delivery started in December 2021 and so far India has received three units. The remaining two units will also be delivered to India soon. How does S-400 work? The S-400 has four different missile series with ranges of 40, 120, 250 and 400 kilometres. Its multi-function radar, automatic command post and tracking system can simultaneously track 36 targets and target 72. It can also recognise altitude, speed and technologically advanced targets. There were many attempts from Pakistan to send drones in the border areas of Punjab, Jammu and Rajasthan, which India shot down in the air. In these incidents, S-400 identified the drones from a distance and destroyed them. This system has been specially deployed in those areas where there is a high risk of infiltration or drone attacks from Pakistan.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine exposes Hungarian military spy network, detains 2 for high treason
May 9 (UPI) -- Ukraine said Friday two alleged members of a Hungarian spy network have been detained. The spies sought military information about the Zakarpattia region, according to the Security Service of Ukraine. "As a result of the operation in Zakarpattia, the SSU detained two agents of the Hungarian network. The investigation found that both assets were supervised by an officer of Hungarian military intelligence, whose identity has already been established," the SSU said in a statement. "This is the first case in the modern history of the country when espionage activities of a foreign intelligence service from an EU country to the detriment of Ukrainian security have been officially recorded." Speaking on the ATV television channel, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said "anti-Hungarian propaganda is often employed in Ukraine... which often turns out to have no basis in fact." But the SSU said Ukraine has the evidence and has neutralized the Hungarian spy network. SSU Counterintelligence documented the alleged spies' moves and seized phones and other material evidence during searches at their homes. The SSU said one of the detained alleged spies was a 40-year-old former military serviceman from Berehove recruited by Hungary and put on standby in 2021. The second detainee is a former servicewoman for the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine who left her unit this year. The spy network's goal, according to the SSU, "was to collect information on how well Zakarpattia region is protected military-wise, to look for vulnerabilities in the region's ground and air defense, as well as to study the socio-political views of local population, including scenarios of their behavior if Hungarian troops enter the region." The man was accused of personally spying on Ukraine defense forces locations and the coordinates of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems. The SSU said the spy traveled to Hungary to report to a Hungarian intelligence officer and was paid cash by his handler. According to the SSU, he was given a mobile phone with an encrypted channel to transmit Ukrainian military data to Hungary. He was tasked with identifying cars of the Ukrainian security and defense forces and giving Hungary data on Ukraine's war losses and developments on the front line. The SSU said the woman accused of spying was assigned tasks including "informing the Hungarian special service on the presence of aircraft and helicopters in Zakarpattia region, as well as on the defense systems of the military unit where she had served." Ukraine's security service posted a YouTube video that included statements in Hungarian from the two spy suspects. Their faces were obscured as they spoke. Both spy suspects were detained for suspicion of high treason and face life imprisonment if convicted under martial law.
