Ukraine suddenly launched a drone attack on Russian territory and announced the destruction of more than 40 military aircraft. On the 1st, Russia admitted that five regions had been subject to "terrorist attacks", three of which were attacked airports located in western Russia, but two were in Irkutsk Oblast and Amur Oblast. Irkutsk Oblast is where Lake Baikal is located, while Amur Oblast is opposite Heilongjiang Province of China. Ukraine's ability to strike so far is quite sensational.
The Ukrainian side claimed that this "Spider Web Operation" was prepared for one and a half years and personally supervised by President Zelenskyy. The ability of the Ukrainian army to simultaneously attack five distant airports in Russia and succeed indeed reflects a certain capability, which requires very meticulous planning and precise implementation.
The Ukrainian side revealed that during this operation, drones were placed in containers and transported deep into Russian territory by trucks. Russia claimed that the drivers of these trucks have been captured. This attack occurred just before the resumption of the Istanbul negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Clearly, Ukraine believed that the success of the attack would enhance its bargaining chips in the negotiation.
This attack reveals the slackness of Russia's rear defense measures, which may be related to personnel and resource shortages. The Belaya Air Base in Irkutsk Oblast, which was attacked, is more than 4000 kilometers away from the Russia-Ukraine border. Governor Igor Kobzev of the Oblast stated that this was the first time that Ukrainian drones had appeared in the region.
"Spider Web Operation" has obviously caused significant losses to Russia. However, it should also be noted that Ukraine's success this time should not affect the strategic situation between Russia and Ukraine. Russia's offensive in the Donbas region will continue. To change the overall battlefield situation between Russia and Ukraine, the key is for the United States and Europe to significantly increase military assistance to Ukraine and truly allow Ukraine to use Western weapons with medium and long-range attack capabilities to strike targets deep within Russia. However, progress in this area is extremely difficult. The Trump administration has yet to show any intention of increasing military aid to Ukraine.
The Zelenskyy government clearly hopes that the success of this attack can boost morale on the Ukrainian side and stimulate interest in increased assistance from Europe and the United States. They hope to break the external perception that Russia's battlefield advantage has become a foregone conclusion. Trump is one of the most active advocates of this view.
Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833746499395595/
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