Ukraine Strikes Major Blow Against Russia’s Aerospace Forces
In a significant development on the Eastern European front, Ukraine has reportedly launched a daring operation that has dealt a substantial blow to Russia’s aerospace capabilities. According to defence analyst Serhii Kuzan, the operation, dubbed "Operation Spider’s Web", has resulted in the destruction or damage of a substantial number of Russia’s strategic bombers.
"No intelligence operation in the world has done anything like this before," Kuzan told Ukrainian TV. "These strategic bombers are capable of launching long-range strikes against us. There are only 120 of them and we struck 40. That’s an incredible figure." The bombers in question, the Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160, are no longer in production, making repairs and replacements extremely challenging, if not impossible.
The impact of the operation is being felt across the military-industrial complex, with Ukrainian military blogger Oleksandr Kovalenko stating that the damage is so extensive that it will be difficult for Russia to restore the affected aircraft in the near future. "The extent of the damage is such that the Russian military-industrial complex, in its current state, is unlikely to be able to restore them in the near future," he wrote on his Telegram channel.
The loss of the supersonic Tu-160, in particular, will be keenly felt by the Russian Aerospace Forces. Kovalenko described the Tu-160 as "truly two unicorns in the herd". The destruction or damage of these aircraft will undoubtedly have a significant impact on Russia’s military capabilities, particularly in terms of long-range strike capabilities.
Beyond the physical damage, Operation Spider’s Web sends a critical message not just to Russia but also to Ukraine’s western allies. According to a government official in Kyiv, there is frustration that some western nations, including the United States, have convinced themselves that Ukraine has already lost the war. "The biggest problem," the official told the BBC, "is that the Americans have convinced themselves we’ve already lost the war. And from that assumption everything else follows."
This sentiment was echoed by Ukrainian defence journalist Illia Ponomarenko, who posted on X that Ukraine’s recent successes are a testament to the country’s resilience and determination. "This is what happens when a proud nation under attack doesn’t listen to all those: ‘Ukraine has only six months left’. ‘You have no cards’. ‘Just surrender for peace, Russia cannot lose’," he wrote.
The BBC has learned that Ukrainian delegates are set to arrive in Istanbul for a fresh round of ceasefire negotiations with representatives from the Kremlin. The message they will be carrying is clear: Ukraine is still very much in the fight. As the quarterly Business Ukraine journal proudly proclaimed, "It turns out Ukraine does have some cards after all. Today Zelensky played the King of Drones."
The Ukrainian government has made it clear that it will not be swayed by western pressure to surrender. The Americans, in particular, have been accused of attempting to negotiate a soft surrender on Ukraine’s behalf. However, Kyiv remains resolute in its determination to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In conclusion, Operation Spider’s Web has dealt a significant blow to Russia’s aerospace capabilities and sent a powerful message to both Russia and Ukraine’s western allies. As the conflict continues, it is clear that Ukraine will not be easily defeated. The BBC will continue to provide updates on this developing story as more information becomes available.
