Could a swarm of cheap drones launched from hidden trucks inside Russian territory mark a turning point in the Ukraine war?

Nearly a week ago, Ukraine carried out a covert drone operation inside Russia, striking five military air bases and damaging or destroying a significant number of strategic bombers. The attack, codenamed “Spider’s Web,” involved 117 small, explosive-laden drones that were smuggled into Russia hidden in trucks, then launched remotely from locations just a few kilometers from their targets, significantly impacting part of Russia’s long-range missile and nuclear strike force.

Federico Borsari and Alexander Lanoszka joined us to discuss the strategic and tactical significance of Ukraine’s drone strike. They unpack the operation’s impact on the war’s trajectory, including how damaging Russian strategic bomber capabilities may shift dynamics in the short to medium term, the logistical challenges of the strike, the role of Russia’s insufficient protection of key military assets in enabling the attack, and the broader implications for modern warfare.

While “Spider’s Web” represents a remarkable tactical feat it remains uncertain whether this operation will fundamentally shift the course of the war. Russia’s capacity to adapt and broader geopolitical factors, including fluctuating international support, suggest the conflict’s outcome is still far from decided.

📬 Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest defence and security updates delivered to your inbox: https://bit.ly/4fQ2wDV

The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security.
 
Learn more: CDA Institute (https://cdainstitute.ca/)

The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security.

Learn more: CDA Institute