Ukraine's AI-Powered Drone Strike Reshapes Modern Warfare

Ukraine is gaining the upper hand. Putin will be terrified

Many of the details of Sunday's drone operation come from the Ukrainian side, so may be taken with a pinch of salt. But the basic logistics of the strike are in no doubt. Ukrainian military engineers, possibly already inside Russia, covertly loaded dozens of explosives-laden drones into special compartments set into the roofs of standard 40-foot steel shipping containers. Using a network of haulage companies set up for the purpose, Ukrainian operatives recruited truck drivers via commercial apps to drive their loads to specific designations next to military airfields thousands of miles away from the Ukrainian border. At a predetermined time the drones buzzed into the air and headed for the airfields with their deadly payloads - to the amazement of the Russian drivers, some of whom posted profanity-laced mobile phone footage of their own rigs - and suddenly transformed into mobile drone-launch platforms. First-person footage from the drones released by the HUR shows the unmanned aerial vehicles carefully lining up over fuel tanks in the bombers' wings before closing in for the kill. Military drone specialists have speculated that the drones were not targeted remotely by human operators but were rather programmed by artificial intelligence to recognise the distinctive shape of Russian Tu-22 and Tu-95 strategic bombers, making them invulnerable to electronic jamming. If the sci-fi novelty of the strikes seems like something out of the dystopian world of Black Mirror, the revolutionary implications for the future of warfare are plain enough. A world where multibillion dollar pieces of sophisticated military hardware can be eliminated en masse by drones light enough to be held in one hand and simple enough to assemble in a garage is one where the conventional balance of power has been upended forever. What should really be worrying Putin is how target-rich his country is for Kyiv's drone hunters. His economy is dependent on a vast network of oil and gas wells pipelines, pumping stations, refineries, storage depots and shipping terminals. Many such facilities have already been targeted by older generation long-range drones, which resemble slow-moving miniature civilian aircraft loaded with explosives. These were launched from inside Ukraine and were vulnerable to anti-missile defences and radio jamming - though a few succeeded in scoring psychologically important hits, for instance a bullseye right on the roof of the Kremlin's Senate Palace back in May 2023. Imagine the devastating power of the new Ukrainian drones, pre-programmed with visual coordinates and launched from just a few hundred yards from their targets, on airports, bridges, factories and military headquarters.

'Aces up the sleeve': Ukraine drone attacks in Russia shake up conflict

Paris (AFP) - Ukraine managed to not only humiliate the Kremlin by boasting of taking out more than a third of all Russian missile carriers in a spectacular drone attack but also to rewrite the rules of modern warfare, analysts say. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Kyiv used inexpensive drones at the weekend to destroy Russian nuclear-capable bombers worth billions of dollars in an operation carried out after months of planning. "Spider's Web" dealt a blow to Russia more than three years after its invasion of Ukraine, and the operation will now be studied closely by militaries around the world as a new strategy in asymmetric warfare. Ukraine said it destroyed $7 billion worth of Russian aircraft parked at airbases thousands of kilometres across the border, mainly Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range strategic bombers. While the attacks at Belaya deep in Siberia and Olenya on the Kola Peninsula in the Arctic circle are unlikely to change to course of the war, they will limit Moscow's ability to launch long-range missile strikes against Ukraine. Yohann Michel, a researcher at the French university Lyon-3, said the loss of the aircraft was "a serious blow to Russian offensive capabilities". "The main impact could be felt in several weeks' time with a reduction in the number of sorties by the rest of the fleet" due to difficulties in finding spare parts for the Soviet-era planes, which are no longer in production, he told AFP. Maxim Starchak, a fellow at the Centre for International and Defence Policy at Queen's University in Canada, said it would take Russia a long time to replace the lost aircraft. "Russia is extremely slow and inefficient in developing new aircraft for its nuclear forces," he told AFP. - New way of waging war - The drones, launched from trucks in the immediate vicinity of air bases deep inside Russia, destroyed or damaged aircraft parked in the open. Congratulating Ukraine's security service chief Vasyl Malyuk, President Volodymyr Zelensky said it had taken 18 months of preparation for the 117 drones to be concealed inside trucks close to the airbases, and that all the Ukrainian agents had safely left Russia. Michael Shurkin, a former CIA officer, said Ukraine's operation was likely to have struck fear into militaries across the world, adding that potential targets for such drone attacks could include refineries, ballistic missile silos or military bases. "This technology is akin to stealth technology: The threat is difficult to detect both because it emerges near the target and is too small and too low to be picked up by sensors designed to catch aircraft or missiles," said Shurkin, director of global programs for the consultancy 14 North Strategies. Ukrainian military analyst Oleksii Kopytko said anyone delivering a pizza or driving a horse-drawn cart could present a danger. "The organisers and main perpetrators are essentially untraceable," he said. A French arms manufacturing executive said Ukraine could even have trained AI algorithms to recognise aircraft or guide the drones in case of jamming. "New tools are forcing us to completely rethink defence systems and how they are produced," said the executive, who asked not to be named. "It opens up possibilities that we hadn't even imagined." Zelensky "just proved that he and Ukraine are more than able to pull aces out of their combat fatigue sleeves," said Timothy Ash, an emerging market economist focused on Russia. 'Did not help' The attacks exposed Russia's air base vulnerabilities, in a massive morale boost for Kyiv after months on the backfoot in the conflict. "The protection of military air bases does not meet security requirements," said Starchak. "The dispersal of military aircraft across different airfields did not help either." Russia's vast size is also a disadvantage here. "Usually, the vastness of Russia's territory is an advantage; you can hide your bombers thousands of kilometres away where they would be safe," said Michel. "The problem is that this means you have to monitor thousands of square kilometres, which is simply impossible." The attacks dealt a blow to Moscow's nuclear triad of ground, sea and air-launched missiles, said Starchak. If it was possible to target an airbase it is also possible to hit bases hosting nuclear submarines, Starchak said. "An attack on long-range aircraft bases is a potential threat to the entire nuclear triad, which can be easily hit, thereby weakening it to the point that it cannot respond with a nuclear strike." John Herbst, senior director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, said that Ukraine's operation gave US President Donald Trump leverage against Russia's Vladimir Putin in search of a settlement. "It is a strong counter to the dubious 'common wisdom' that the war is moving inevitably in Moscow's favour," wrote the former US ambassador to Ukraine

'Aces up the sleeve': Ukraine drone attacks in Russia shake up conflict

Ukraine's audacious drone attacks on Russian airbases, dubbed "Spider's Web," have crippled Moscow's long-range strike capabilities and exposed vulnerabilities in its air defense. The operation, which destroyed billions of dollars worth of strategic bombers, is being hailed as a game-changer in modern asymmetric warfare.Ukraine managed to not only humiliate the Kremlin by boasting of taking out more than a third of all Russian missile carriers in a spectacular drone attack but also to rewrite the rules of modern warfare, analysts say. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Kyiv used inexpensive drones at the weekend to destroy Russian nuclear-capable bombers worth billions of dollars in an operation carried out after months of planning. "Spider's Web" dealt a blow to Russia more than three years after its invasion of Ukraine, and the operation will now be studied closely by militaries around the world as a new strategy in asymmetric warfare. Ukraine said it destroyed $7 billion worth of Russian aircraft parked at airbases thousands of kilometres across the border, mainly Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range strategic bombers. While the attacks at Belaya deep in Siberia and Olenya on the Kola Peninsula in the Arctic circle are unlikely to change to course of the war, they will limit Moscow's ability to launch long-range missile strikes against Ukraine. Yohann Michel, a researcher at the French university Lyon-3, said the loss of the aircraft was "a serious blow to Russian offensive capabilities". "The main impact could be felt in several weeks' time with a reduction in the number of sorties by the rest of the fleet" due to difficulties in finding spare parts for the Soviet-era planes, which are no longer in production, he told AFP. Maxim Starchak, a fellow at the Centre for International and Defence Policy at Queen's University in Canada, said it would take Russia a long time to replace the lost aircraft. "Russia is extremely slow and inefficient in developing new aircraft for its nuclear forces," he told AFP. New way of waging war The drones, launched from trucks in the immediate vicinity of air bases deep inside Russia, destroyed or damaged aircraft parked in the open. Congratulating Ukraine's security service chief Vasyl Malyuk, President Volodymyr Zelensky said it had taken 18 months of preparation for the 117 drones to be concealed inside trucks close to the airbases, and that all the Ukrainian agents had safely left Russia. Michael Shurkin, a former CIA officer, said Ukraine's operation was likely to have struck fear into militaries across the world, adding that potential targets for such drone attacks could include refineries, ballistic missile silos or military bases. "This technology is akin to stealth technology: The threat is difficult to detect both because it emerges near the target and is too small and too low to be picked up by sensors designed to catch aircraft or missiles," said Shurkin, director of global programs for the consultancy 14 North Strategies. Ukrainian military analyst Oleksii Kopytko said anyone delivering a pizza or driving a horse-drawn cart could present a danger. "The organisers and main perpetrators are essentially untraceable," he said. A French arms manufacturing executive said Ukraine could even have trained AI algorithms to recognise aircraft or guide the drones in case of jamming. "New tools are forcing us to completely rethink defence systems and how they are produced," said the executive, who asked not to be named. "It opens up possibilities that we hadn't even imagined." Zelensky "just proved that he and Ukraine are more than able to pull aces out of their combat fatigue sleeves," said Timothy Ash, an emerging market economist focused on Russia. 'Did not help' The attacks exposed Russia's air base vulnerabilities, in a massive morale boost for Kyiv after months on the backfoot in the conflict. "The protection of military air bases does not meet security requirements," said Starchak. "The dispersal of military aircraft across different airfields did not help either." Russia's vast size is also a disadvantage here. "Usually, the vastness of Russia's territory is an advantage; you can hide your bombers thousands of kilometres away where they would be safe," said Michel. "The problem is that this means you have to monitor thousands of square kilometres, which is simply impossible." The attacks dealt a blow to Moscow's nuclear triad of ground, sea and air-launched missiles, said Starchak. If it was possible to target an airbase it is also possible to hit bases hosting nuclear submarines, Starchak said. "An attack on long-range aircraft bases is a potential threat to the entire nuclear triad, which can be easily hit, thereby weakening it to the point that it cannot respond with a nuclear strike." John Herbst, senior director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, said that Ukraine's operation gave US President Donald Trump leverage against Russia's Vladimir Putin in search of a settlement. "It is a strong counter to the dubious 'common wisdom' that the war is moving inevitably in Moscow's favour," wrote the former US ambassador to Ukraine.

Operation Spider's Web: How Ukraine targeted Russian airfield over 4000 km away with armed drones, destroy nuclear bombers

Ukraine launched Operation Spider's Web, a meticulously planned drone assault targeting four Russian airbases: Olenya, Belaya, Ivanovo, and Dyagilevo, on June 1, 2025. The operation, personally overseen by President Volodymyr Zelensky, involved the deployment of 117 drones, resulting in the destruction of over 40 Russian military aircraft, including strategic bombers such as the Tu-22M3, Tu-95, and the A-50 AWACS. Zelensky praised the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), General Vasyl Maliuk, and all involved operatives, confirming that the operation took over a year and a half to prepare. "Planning, organization, every detail was perfectly executed. I can say with certainty that this is an absolutely unique operation," he stated. Zelensky also revealed that the base of the operation inside Russia was situated directly next to an FSB headquarters in one of the regions, a detail now made public. Also read: How Ukraine's 'Spider Web' attacked Russia's nuclear-capable strategic bombers in Siberia He further detailed the operation's scale: "In total, 117 drones were used in the operation - with a corresponding number of drone operators involved. 34% of the strategic cruise missile carriers stationed at air bases were hit. Our personnel operated across multiple Russian regions - in three different time zones. And the people who assisted us were withdrawn from Russian territory before the operation, they are now safe. Glory to Ukraine!" The drones were ingeniously concealed within modified trucks, with launch mechanisms hidden under remote-controlled roofs. These trucks were strategically positioned near the targeted airbases, allowing for a surprise attack that penetrated deep into Russian territory, some sites being over 4,300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Operation Spider's Web showcased Ukraine's advancements in drone warfare and strategic planning. The drones, equipped with artificial intelligence targeting systems, were capable of identifying and striking critical components of the aircraft, such as fuel tanks, maximizing damage. The success of the strike was attributed to over 18 months of covert preparation, including smuggling drones across borders and establishing bases within Russia. These bases were reportedly set up close to Russian intelligence facilities, a factor that enabled the successful launch of drones from behind enemy lines. Also read: "Brilliant operation carried out on enemy territory, Russia suffered significant losses": Zelenskyy The destruction of a significant portion of Russia's strategic bomber fleet, estimated at over one-third, dealt a substantial blow to its long-range aerial capabilities. The damage inflicted by the operation is estimated at around $7 billion. The hit to Russia's Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 fleet also undermines its ability to conduct future missile strikes from air platforms, reducing strategic flexibility. The A-50 airborne radar systems, critical for battlefield surveillance, were also among the casualties, marking another key loss. This operation not only impaired Russia's ability to launch long-range attacks but also exposed significant vulnerabilities in its air defense coverage. The effectiveness of the operation has prompted a reassessment of Russian security protocols around key military infrastructure. Operation Spider's Web represents a turning point in the use of unmanned systems in strategic warfare. Ukraine's ability to organize a multi-regional operation with high-value targets and low personnel risk demonstrates a shift in modern military doctrine. The use of AI-enabled drones, covert staging near FSB facilities, and cross-time-zone coordination reinforces Ukraine's evolving capability to conduct asymmetric operations with maximum efficiency. This successful strike is expected to influence drone warfare planning by allied nations and adversaries alike. Also read: Russia and Ukraine to talk about peace but are still far apart As the war continues, Ukraine's integration of technological innovation into battlefield strategies may redefine conflict in the 21st century, altering global defense and intelligence priorities in the months ahead.