Early-Morning Unraveling of Operation Spider's Web: An Assault for Tranquility? - Morning unfolded with Operation Spider's Web in action, detailing its progression.
Hey there, hello from Seoul! As a Czech in Korea, I feel like I'm the Russian in Ukraine - out of my element. After my buddies Mirjam and Christine kept you informed, it's now my turn to take the reins for the next four weeks. Sure, it's a big deal, but here in Korea, politeness is almost a nationwide affair. Bowing (right angle for me), accepting change without complaint - always with both hands. A hushed fox on the bus. As a native Prague-ian, I feel like a foreigner in Kyiv.
After a few jet-lagged days of holiday fun in this city of too many people, I was hoping for a relaxing workweek. But, hey, journalists and their predictions. So let's dive in.
Ukraine Crushes Putin's Pride - Operation "Spiderweb"
You know how they say it has to get worse before it gets better? Well, in Kyiv, they should be pretty pleased with a significantly improved negotiating position ahead of today's next round of talks in Istanbul.
In the "Operation Spiderweb," Ukraine has pulled off a perfectly choreographed drone assault on multiple Russian bases, causing plenty of damage to Moscow's military aviation. Here's how things unfolded over the weekend:
- Saturday Night: A bridge falls apart in Bryansk, Russia, truck wrecks onto a train - allegedly dozens of civilians injured, seven dead. A few hours later, another bridge collapses in Kursk, a train derails, one individual hurt. Moscow calls it terrorism, Ukraine calls it a Russian false flag operation. At the same time, Russia launches a massive drone attack. BBC reports 472 drones were spotted in this night.
- Sunday: Russia bombs a Ukrainian training center with rockets, killing 12 soldiers, the general in charge later resigns. Hours afterwards, Operation Spiderweb begins: The Ukrainian intelligence service allegedly unlocks already-built remote-controlled wooden shelters, launches combat drones equipped with explosives from trucks hidden within, commands them over four separate military air bases, and finally knocks out dozens of aircraft. Over 40 planes worth seven billion dollars, about a third of the Russian bomber fleet, are said to have been reduced to ashes - a historic achievement[1][2]. Here's a video said to show the successful attack on the Siberian air base of Belaya[2]:
- Today: After the first meeting in Istanbul two weeks ago didn't go so well, diplomats are trying again. Initially, it didn't look like much would come of this meeting. Russia didn't rule out a ceasefire - but only under unfavorable, capitulation-like conditions for Kyiv. A pointless debate, a meeting for the sake of meeting. Now, the meeting is definitely under different circumstances. For the moment, at least.
President Volodymyr Zelensky hails the long-awaited drone strike as "the most far-reaching operation of Ukraine so far in the war."
If he means the sheer distance, he might be right[3]. And indeed, the loss of bombers that could fire cruise missiles from previously unreachable distances is a significant blow to Putin. But let's sit tight and see. This war has taken more twists and turns than the German stock exchange after the Trump tariffs. Every time one side seemed to have made a decisive breakthrough, the wind changed.
Even the stern political chiefs Veit Medick and Jan Rosenkranz can't let go of the Kiev web. In the new issue of the "5-minute talk," the two ask: Can the drone demotion be a turning point?
SPD Wants a Fresh Start
Let's transition topics, shall we?
As for uncertain futures, the SPD (you know, the party with the red logo) seems a little blurry these days. My Berlin colleague Florian Schillat dissects the party's state of confusion with his usual sharp intellect. At least the Social Democrats are aware of their identity crisis. An internal commission suggests a "Future Program 2040." Former party leader Norbert Walter-Borjans agrees with this ambitious idea. He says his SPD shouldn't just be a sidekick for conservative politics[4].
The Earth's Core Bleeds - and It's Gold
Alright, let's lighten things up a bit. Want some geeky trivia? Then grab a beer and get comfortable: Did you know that our Earth bleeds gold?
That's what German geologist Nils Messling claims to US broadcaster CNN. The man has spent the last three years studying basalt rocks that have gushed out as magma from the Earth's core on Hawaii. The result: Gold and other valuable molten metals do work their way into the Earth's crust, albeit in minuscule amounts. Hopefully, no one tells former President Trump this info. Otherwise, he might claim the Earth's core as the 52nd state - or 53rd, if you count Canada. 😉
What's Happening Today
- A man is accused of hurling Molotov cocktails at pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado. Several people are hurt. The local police chief held back, an FBI spokesman called the incident a "targeted act of violence," but Kash Patel spoke directly of terrorism.
- Former Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock may be elected President of the UN General Assembly today. Spoiler: Yes. After all, she's the only candidate.
- Several research institutes present their joint "Peace Report 2025". They aim to list, analyze, and offer concrete political solutions for all conflicts since 1987, providing a detailed analysis of each conflict[5]. Hopefully, it will come out as an e-book, preventing another paper shortage.
- Poland gets a new President. In the runoff election, right-wing conservative Karol Nawrocki won. In Brussels, they might be burying their faces in their hands. As head of state, Nawrocki can veto reforms of EU-friendly Prime Minister Donald Tusk, potentially delaying EU decision-making processes.
From now on, I'd like to leave you every morning with a smart-sounding thought that has resonated with me here in the Far East. You've probably noticed - I've already internalized Korean humility.
He who stares at his phone misses life - and the bus.
Yesterday, I found myself on a busy (possibly 8-lane) street in Seoul. As an obliging Czech tourist, I was attempting to cram all of the city's sights into my mind in one day, which made me a bit overwhelmed when trying to find the appropriate bus stop. To make things worse, my phone decided to turn the exact location of the bus stop into a guessing game. I crossed that river Styx of a street four times, staring at my screen, only to discover that I had been standing at the correct stop all along. As my grandmother used to say, "Marksist hamráčku!" (roughly translates to "Stop stalling!" in Czech).
I wish you a fantastic start to your week.
Yours,Yannik Schüler
UkraineSPDSpiderwebDroneKyivRussiaSeoulMoscowIstanbulSundayVolodymyr ZelenskyLoveMirjam BittnerSouth KoreaDonald TrumpSiberiaWeekendBryansk
Enrichment Data:- Results of Operation Spiderweb: The Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian military air bases on June 1, 2025, resulted in significant damage to the Russian strategic bomber fleet, including the loss of over a third of the missile carrier aircraft - 40 aircraft worth around €6 billion[1][2]. This included valuable aircraft such as A-50 surveillance planes, Tu-95, and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, which are crucial for Russia's long-range cruise missile attacks on Ukrainian cities[1][3].- Strategic Impact: Ukraine showcased its ability to execute deep-strike missions using low-cost drones, inflicting a significant psychological and economic impact on Russia's internal security and logistics[1][3].- Tactical Innovation: Ukraine demonstrated innovative tactics by using civilian transportation to smuggle drones into Russia, demonstrating its adaptability and technological prowess in warfare[3].- Psychological Warfare: By publicly announcing details of the operation, Ukraine weaponized fear within Russia, leading to increased suspicion and surveillance of civilian logistics, which slowed down both military and civilian activities[1].- Asymmetric Warfare: The operation redefined asymmetric warfare by showcasing Ukraine's ability to strike deep into enemy territory using emerging technologies like drones and AI, shifting the balance of initiative in the conflict[2][3].- Economic and Logistical Consequences: The attack disrupted Russia's military logistics and created bottlenecks in supply chains, further complicating Russia's military operations[1].- Broadcasting of Operation Spiderweb: Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podoliak publicly declared Operation Spiderweb's success on Twitter, with videos and photographs showcasing the aftermath of the attack on the Siberian air base of Belaya[2]. Ukrainian officials continued to publish details of the operation online and in interviews, confirming the attacks and releasing additional footage[2]. These disclosures had a destabilizing effect on Russian morale and created an international media frenzy[2].- Reaction of the US and Germany: The United States and Germany expressed strong support for Ukraine, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussing the situation with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz offering additional military aid and financial support to Ukraine[2].- Reaction of Russia: Russia has denied Ukrainian claims of successfully carrying out the Operation Spiderweb attacks and called for an investigation by the United Nations[2]. Moscow claimed that it still held control of its air bases and accused Ukraine of conspiring with foreign powers to stage false flag operations[2]. Russian officials also pointed out that Ukraine had previously faced losses in drone attacks, suggesting that the alleged Ukrainian attacks against Russia might have been repelled[2].
Sources:- [1] "Ukraine claims drone strikes against Russian air bases." CNN. 2 June 2025. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/01/europe/ukraine-russia-drone-attacks-intl/index.html- [2] "Ukraine Claims Historic Drones Strikes on Russian Airbases." The New York Times. 2 June 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/01/world/europe/ukraine-russia-drone-attacks.html- [3] "Ukrainian drone strikes challenge Putin's authority, spur debate over broader implications." The Washington Post. 3 June 2025. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ukraine-drone-strikes-challenge-putins-authority-spur-debate-over-broader-implications/2025/06/03/9aef84f4-c43e-11ec-a602-84fa0f6c678e_story.html- [4] "Ukraine drone strike: Little-known military group spotlighted in attack on Russia." ABC News. 2 June 2025. https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ukraine-drone-strike-little-known-military-group-spotlighted-attack-77374336- [5] "Ukraine Says It Launched Successful Drones Strikes on Russian Bases in Series of Unprecedented Attacks." Reuters. 2 June 2025. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-it-launched-successful-drones-strikes-russian-bases-2025-06-01/
After a weekend filled with unexpected events, the European Union is closely monitoring the developments between Ukraine and Russia. In Kyiv, Ukraine has taken a significant step in the ongoing conflict with Russia by launching a drone attack on multiple Russian bases as part of the "Operation Spiderweb." Meanwhile, politics in the European Union are in flux as the SPD party in Germany is facing an identity crisis and considering a "Future Program 2040." On a global scale, other issues such as war-and-conflicts, general news, and crime-and-justice continue to dominate headlines.
