Ukraine has destroyed a significant portion of Russia’s bomber forces in a daring drone attack deep inside Russia. Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, launched hundreds of drones near four air bases in Russia and destroyed 41 heavy bombers, many of which had been used in long-range missile attacks against Ukraine in recent weeks. According to Kyiv Independent, the single coordinated attack caused $7 billion in damage and took out 34% of Russia’s cruise missile launch platforms. Among the planes hit were A-50s, Tu-95s and Tu-22M3s, some of the most modern in the Russian inventory.
Once the bombers were burning, Ukraine apparently had no qualms about bragging about how they did it. A source told the Independent the drones, each equipped with POV cameras that live-streamed their flights, were smuggled into Russia in an operation that started about 18 months ago. They were taken to staging area near the air bases, including one in Irkutsk, about 2500 miles from Ukraine, and hidden in the joist spaces of dummy cabins. The cabins were mounted on trucks and moved into position. “At the right moment, the roofs of the cabins were opened remotely, and the drones flew to hit Russian bombers,” the publication reported.
Solid reporting and one hell of a wake-up call. It looks like Ukraine just rewrote the playbook on asymmetric warfare. Forty one Russian bombers gutted in a single night. That is not just retaliation. That is art.
But then comes Irkutsk. And that is where this turns from military strike to spy novel. Irkutsk is not a border base. It is twenty five hundred miles deep inside Russian territory. Past forests, rivers, terrain most would think is unreachable. And yet the drones were already there. Waiting.
Hidden in dummy cabins. Smuggled across the country over eighteen months. Tucked into rafters like sleeping weapons. Then at the signal, the roofs slide open, the drones lift off quietly and strike. Some had live video. All knew exactly where to go. This was not a raid. It was a performance.
Someone got close. Someone moved gear near Russia’s most protected aircraft. That means help on the inside or a deep failure in security. Either one shakes the Kremlin more than any missile ever could. The war is not just on the front. It is now behind the curtain. And the message is clear. Nowhere is safe. Go Ukraine!
Reminds me of the planning and stealth used against Hezbollah at a different smaller scale with the booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies. Brilliant, patient warfare, and great reporting here and from the Kyiv Independent and the Guardian.
Viva Ukraine
Message: Putin is weak.
Copy that.
Best news the free world has gotten in a thousand days. The retaliation may be grim. Trumpster may want to reshuffle his deck and back an old player…one that was on his side all along.
What makes you think the US wasn’t involved?
That’s a comforting thought. Was it and will it?
@Larry: I’d like to think the U.S. was involved, at least indirectly. We didn’t fly the drones or pull the trigger, but realistically, an op this complex almost certainly leaned on a quiet backbone of U.S. intelligence, training, and strategic coordination.
Call it a covert assist. No fingerprints, but the shadow’s there. The scale of the strike and the strategic implications are just too big for it to have been entirely homegrown.
An administration official told CNN that they had no clue about the covert operation and were caught unaware - as it should be, imho.
“The planning, organization, and all the details were perfectly prepared. It can be confidently said that this was an absolutely unique operation for Ukraine,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Also, a senior US defense official told CNN that after seeing Ukraine’s attack it showed a level of sophistication they had never seen before.
Neither our allies nor Ukraine can trust Trump whatsoever with geopolitical or military matters. Zelensky is valiantly fighting Russia, while Trump is insanely fighting Harvard.
Despite the POTUS of America who - no doubt after consuting his top generals - then blubbered “Vladimir, STOP!” Ukraine ignored the child’s words and did the work.
Despite accurate news reports on the action, any guesses on who will take credit for its success tomorrow?
Those Ukrainians are some mighty crafty fellers, Raf. With just a little bit of intelligence and other help, they pulled off a coup 'ol Vlad won’t soon forget. AND … he ain’t stupid … he knows how this happened. A message is being sent to him; hopefully, he’s hearing it. This is as crafty as the beeper caper pulled off by the Israelis.
“Once the bombers were burning, Ukraine apparently had no qualms about bragging about how they did it. A source told the Independent the drones, each equipped with POV cameras that live-streamed their flights, were smuggled into Russia in an operation that started about 18 months ago. They were taken to staging area near the air bases, including one in Irkutsk, about 2500 miles from Ukraine, and hidden in the joist spaces of dummy cabins. The cabins were mounted on trucks and moved into position. “At the right moment, the roofs of the cabins were opened remotely, and the drones flew to hit Russian bombers,” the publication reported.”
A few questions. Russ, I don’t understand the tone of your first sentence in the paragraph I quoted. I don’t see any bragging, a peculiar word used to describe this event. Second; given the success of this operation, why is anyone divulging anything about the logistics of how it was accomplished. It makes no sense to telegraph any advantage one may have over an enemy. Third; there is no way Ukraine can be thought of as the sole party involved in this operation. It’s just not possible. It flys in the face of any common sense.
Wishful thinking on your part Larry. Your man Trump just last week repeated that Ukraine has no cards. Zelenskyy just told Trump “you’re wrong”. Unfortunately the US was not involved in this caper, didn’t even know it was going to happen, and we all know why.
A country/military would have to be a “trusted partner” to be aware/involved.
Russia has had it’s military attacked. It will respond with attacks on civilians. That is where the outrage lies. Putin is doing what Israel is accused of.
Some of you guys here make me laugh. I’d venture to say that most of you have never worn the uniform of the United States, don’t understand how military capabilities go far beyond kinetic capabilities and the whole thing is a chess game. The military is an arm of the Government that enforces political aims which sometimes are made public and sometimes not. CNN, MSDNC, et al, are not the official speaker for the Government. Actions speak louder than words AND sometimes are at odds with the spoken word.
Laugh all you want Larry. No one is saying the military is not capable. It’s just that Trump is on Putin’s side and the military is not commanded to be engaged like you in your fantasy world wish it were.
The big picture points to Ukraine pulling this off on their own. They planned it, smuggled the drones in, and carried out the strikes using their own people and equipment. The setup began back in 2023 and 2024, while Biden was still in office.
U.S. intelligence didn’t see it coming, and I agree with vayuwings – that is probably how it should be, considering the current U.S.-Ukraine relationship. Ukraine kept it tight, even from its allies.
The U.S. helped Ukraine over the years with ISR, training, and tech. That support laid the foundation. But when it comes to this strike, there is no sign of direct U.S. involvement. Ukraine ran the whole show, or at least that’s the story being told. Maybe that framing also helps keep NATO and the U.S. from getting pulled into the mess.
That is what the open sources are saying. I am just connecting the dots.
And the bigger question now is – what is Russia going to do? Just eat it? The Motherland is not looking so secure these days.
"And the bigger question now is – what is Russia going to do? "
They will bomb Civilians Hospitals and Children…that’s what they are capable of.
"And the bigger question now is – what is Russia going to do? "
We all know what the immediate response will be. Bombing civilians in a blind attempt for revenge. But the longer-range response may be more drastic. This makes the Russian military look weak and inept, and is a major embarrassment for Putin. Vlad might want to be extra careful from now on, since the Russian oligarchs who really run the country are getting tired of him and his war. Over 900,000 Russian and North Korean casualties, a badly depleted military stockpile, multiple embarrassing strikes inside Russia (including this one) from a supposedly corrupt and inept Ukrainian defense force. And what does Russia have to show for it? Damn little except for a shaky economy and a sliver of Ukrainian territory. It could be that Putin might be the next casualty.
In a larger sense, the US and NATO should be paying close attention to all this, as it is truly rewriting the rules of engagement for future conflicts. Tanks and billion-dollar manned fighter planes are obsolete, rendered so by inexpensive (relatively speaking) hand launched missiles and drones. Major nations have traditionally gone into a new war with the leftover weapons and tactics from the last one, only to find that neither one works any more. Watch and learn.
The level of debate here is laughable. Besides the plain fact that POTUS is in Putin’s pocket, would never help Ukraine, and quite evidently has the whole US govt tied around his finger, you are all missing the obvious: there are more than two countries in the world.
It’s not whether or not the US helped plan this. It’s that MANY other countries (all of Europe, and the Caucuses, and more) have a vested interest to ensure that Ukraine does not fall. [edit: that Russia does not win.]
In just Europe, France, Germany, and England all have the means to provide the intelligence needed, and more so when they work together. And Israel, which actually has been mentioned here, definitely has the means - and besides keeping close tabs on the Russians for their own purposes, is strongly aligned with Europe. (Aside, every wonder why they’re in the Eurovision contest) “What’s Eurovision?” You all say? <— My case in point.
No matter who helped or didn’t, Ukraine just changed the mood. It’s not about just surviving anymore, it’s about proving they can strike deep and make it count. And now, the whole world’s watching. Go Ukraine.
Ukraine has just shown how formidable an adversary they are and they don’t need the U.S. to fund their war for them. Go Ukraine. Zelinsky is one hell of a con man.
Oh the adjectives of the commentators with such eloquence and praise of NAZI dictator Zelenskyy under whose “leadership” cancelled elections, declared martial law, dismantled all press coverage except his propaganda machine, and is totally dependent on US taxpayer funded military aid, US taxpayer supplied cash to pay Ukrainian government salaries, pensions, with no accountability or oversight, using US/BritishIsrael intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance to be the battering ram and proxy warrior to bleed the Russian military, the Russian economy dry, to force regime change through internal revolt, do that so the US can get control of Russia and it’s natural resources. Trump 1,0 supplied US led NATO resources to train and supply 850,000 Ukrainian soldiers, making it the second largest NATO military second only to Turkey. The Ukrainian Military got the best of NATO hardware and software. So, let’s see how all of that brilliance, military art, craftiness, and sophistication has fared for the West led by DC.
Over 1.5 million dead Ukrainian soldiers. More than half of the original 51 million population has fled. All the Leopord, Challenger, Abram’s tanks destroyed, all of the artillery, and artillery shells used up in the US, and NATO countries with no production capabilities to replace it. 30% of Ukrainian territory lost and climbing. Destruction of the Patriot systems, Attakems, Himars, with no production capacity to replace them. All the F-16’s either shot down, grounded due to lack of parts,lost thru accidents, and maintenance failures. No air superiority. Billions and billions of US taxpayer supplied dollars vaporized… of which we still don’t know the total. And the US economy in free fall, dept climbing out of control, and just past a big, beautiful bill that makes Biden’s spending look like a bargain. Our military is worn out, spread out over the globe in over 800 bases, being led by the F-35 operational boondoggle, with only three of the seven nuke carriers available at any time, led by a former Fox and Friends co-host. And no , nada, not in any way, able defend ourselves against hypersonic missles we cannot stop, nor do we have any thing close even in development Yeah… brilliant, crafty, military art. We threw everything the US and NATO has against Russia… and lost big time.
Biden’s invasion of Kursk…100,000 dead Ukrainians. Trumps attack on the five Russian bases, 6 damaged or destroyed TU-95’s. Three bases shot down all of the drone suffering no damage. Many of the drones failed to launch. Trump has made sure he will never be trusted again. Why were those airplanes sitting outside wing tip to wingtip? SALT and START treaties negotiated between the US and Russia requires they be visible from space and electronically. That includes our aerial nuclear arsenal of B-1’s, B-2’s, and B-52’s. Those treaties also state any attack on them is war allowing for legal nuclear retaliation. Trump said a few days ago, Russia must accept an immediate cease fire or “something really bad” will happen. Biden said he was going to destroy the Nordstream pipeline. He did just that. Trump just made sure that Ukraine just commited suicide. The Brits commited terrorism by destroying bridges onto Russian civilians. Mousad has been trying to foster Zionism division among the Russian Islamic, Christian, and Orthodox civilians. US has done likewise by use of Attakems, and drones at a multitude of civilian targets all over Russia for over two years. The Ukrainians used over 1,000 drones led by US targeting data to attempt the assassination of Putin. All because we wanted NATO on the Russian border in its attempt to destroy Russia and capture it’s resources. Russia has totally defeated NATO and Washington. Our GDP is shrinking theirs growing almost three times the US. They have the strongest, most capable military in the world. We are running on empty… and so many think this disgusting human mess we created is “winning “. We cannot be trusted by any one including us US citizens. This is Making America Great Again? Seriously? We are becoming the globe’s pariah. Let the comments BEGIN!
And Russia will retaliate by killing more civilians (what a miserable country). When will they be brought to heel?
The laugh’s on you Larry. Again. Today Trump admitted, again, that he knew nothing in advance about the Ukrainian strike.
And the following headline from Politico today should scare anyone who is under the impression that the Trump administration is looking out for best US interests: “ Hegseth to skip Ukraine meeting at NATO headquarters.”
Brilliant and eloquent.
One additional note. This PR stunt is necessary as a prerequisite to coming back for more billions courtesy of the US Taxpayer.
ROFL, I would like to know your Military background. I can honestly say, after 28 years in the Corps, there were two former POTUS who told the American public “they were not aware.” We stretched our heads, knowing we had helped support OPSEC-type operations.