The basic outline of what took place are now a bit clearer. In what was called “Operation Spider Web” Ukraine counterintelligence operatives staged a series of semi-trucks near five strategic air bases deep inside Russia. The trucks were loaded with explosive drones, and the drones came out and attacked the bases. Most of the truck drivers and drone operators were captured by Russian military. It was a suicide mission.
According to Ukraine government officials the mission was a big success; however, the claim of 40 strategic long-range Russian bombers being destroyed seems more like a PR narrative than likely actual outcome.
Factually, it was a counterintelligence success to pull off such a well-coordinated significant operation deep inside the Russian Federation. However, on the other hand this operation outlines how Russia is more like the USA than people think as it relates to the locations of their military bases and the vulnerable proximity around them.
Most Americans think of Russia as some form of locked-down totalitarian state where every square inch is under strict surveillance. My recent travels throughout Russia highlight exactly the opposite. Russia is far more open and unmonitored; yes, even around military bases, than our own country. There is not a big matrix of surveillance around the Russian Federation at all.
Some of the five known attacks took place 2,000km deep into Russia. According to Axios, “Ukrainian intelligence agents launched 117 attack drones from trucks that have been covertly placed near Russian air bases — some of them in Siberia — thousands of kilometers from Ukraine. Around 40 Russian military planes — most of them strategic bombers — were reportedly hit in the attack. Zelensky said 34% of Russias strategic bombers were hit.”
I doubt the accuracy of that “40” hit target number with 117 drones; yet even if true, not all the targeted aircraft would be completely disabled.
According to CBS, “The drones hit airfields including the Belaya air base in Russia’s Irkutsk region, more than 2,500 miles from Ukraine. It is the first time that a Ukrainian drone has been seen in the region, local Gov. Igor Kobzev told AP, stressing that it did not present a threat to civilians. While White House spokespeople declined to comment on the attack, administration sources told CBS News on Sunday that the White House was not aware it was coming.”
Russian news outlets are reporting that the truck drivers and drone operators have been captured. Obviously, the Russian Federation considers this an act of terrorism, and the captured suspects will not be treated as combatants at war. The operators who carried out the mission will be tortured (for quite a while), questioned and then ultimately disappeared or sent back to their Ukrainian homeland in several pieces.
Ukrainian saboteurs also carried out two successful attacks on small regional bridges near the Russia/Ukraine border. Again, CBS,”The first bridge, in the Bryansk region on the border with Ukraine, collapsed on top of a passenger train on Saturday, causing casualties. The train’s driver was among those killed, state-run Russian Railways said. Hours later, officials said a second train derailed when the bridge beneath it collapsed in the nearby Kursk region, which also borders Ukraine.”
As the notices first started appearing online via Telegram, my first impression was that this was more akin to a one-time value terrorist attack by Ukraine counterintel operatives in Russia, with little/no western support. The attacks themselves, while well-coordinated and seemingly quite effective, are of a very rudimentary level. However, that said, the CIA or western intelligence agencies may well have supported or assisted.
The attacks come as Russian officials are in Turkey for further ceasefire negotiations with their Ukrainian counterparts scheduled to begin tomorrow. Obviously, President Zelenskyy would know this operation would create an environment in Turkey the opposite of peace talks. Highlighting once again that Zelenskyy is not interested in peace discussions as long as he has USA and NATO cover (and support) for his continued attacks upon Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin considers Ukraine President Zelenskyy as a terrorist. This method of attack by Zelenskyy certainly underlines and affirms that perspective by Putin. The counterstrike by Vladimir Putin will likely be very serious and devastating, and we can anticipate Zelenskyy running behind the NATO apron for cover now that he has punched Putin deep inside the Russian Federation.
According to the New York Post, Axios and CBS News, President Trump was unaware the attack was going to take place. It will be interesting to see what position President Trump takes with a rather significant predictable response now pending from Vladimir Putin.
The carpet-bombing of Ukraine is more likely today than it was yesterday.
