Months after US President Donald Trump criticized him for having “no cards,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded decisively by launching one of the most daring attacks in modern warfare.
Through Operation Spider Web, Ukraine struck five Russian airbases and possibly even a submarine base. These attacks occurred not just in nearby regions but also deep inside Russia, including in remote Siberia. Using 117 drones, Ukraine damaged nearly one-third of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet and a significant portion of its airborne early warning systems.
This unexpected strike demonstrated that Ukraine remains strong in the face of Russia’s military superiority. It reminded the world that the war is far from over and Ukraine still has the ability to fight back effectively.
Ukraine Proves Its Military Strength Despite Setbacks
Although Trump and others have repeated claims that Ukraine is close to defeat, experts say the actual situation is a military deadlock. Russia has made only minimal progress, capturing just 1% of Ukrainian territory since January 2024, according to Shreya Sinha, a European affairs scholar at the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF).
The attack also overturned the recent narrative shaped by images of Ukraine suffering from Russian airstrikes and feeling abandoned by key allies like the US. Now, images of Ukrainian drones destroying Russian aircraft have taken over headlines and sparked global military discussions.
“Ukraine’s drone strikes have communicated the nation’s resilience and innovation, challenging assumptions about asymmetry in capability. In a non-kinetic warfare paradigm, Ukraine has not only held ground but also reinvented itself as a formidable actor in drone-based hybrid warfare, shaping perceptions globally,” said Sinha.
Russia’s Military Strength Now Under Question
Despite having more troops and weapons, Russia has faced serious losses. Its Black Sea fleet has become nearly useless, and the country has lost a third of its long-range bombers and half of its AEWAC fleet. Ukraine has also killed several top Russian generals. Reports estimate Russia has faced about 1 million troop casualties.
Swasti Rao, a scholar at Jindal School of International Affairs (JSIA), emphasized that Russia’s battlefield achievements have come at a heavy price. Even though it controls roughly 19% of Ukrainian territory, much of that was gained before 2022 — through the 2014 Crimea annexation and later insurgency in the Donbas region. Since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, only 12% of Ukraine has been newly captured.
Rao also pointed out the economic efficiency of Ukraine’s drone campaign: “Ukraine dealt a blow worth $7-8 billion using drones that likely cost just a few million dollars.” This highlights how Ukraine is using smart tactics to counter its disadvantages in manpower and weapons.
According to Rao, “The situation now is that the war is costing Russia much more than it’s costing Ukraine in all domains — equipment, money, and reputation. As a result of the war, Russia has become dependent on China for the sustenance of its war and economy. For a superpower to become a junior partner of a rising power is a major loss of reputation.”
Zelenskyy Targets Strategic, Diplomatic Wins
With this drone operation, Zelenskyy not only achieved military success but also sent a clear message globally — Ukraine is not defeated and still has strong leverage.
More importantly, the operation could give Ukraine a stronger position at the negotiation table. As Rao explained, “Ukraine sought, and successfully acquired, a relative position of strength in ongoing negotiations with these strikes. The final outcome of the war is unlikely to change in the sense that Ukraine is unlikely to get Russia-occupied territories…”
By striking deep into Russian territory with low-cost drones, Ukraine has balanced the battlefield and earned back global attention — while also pushing for a better position in future peace talks.
