Morning|Star Attack: Ukraine's Ambush on Putin - Unveiling "Operation Spiderweb"
Covert Strike: Revealing the Unraveling of 'Operation Spiderweb' - Events of the Morning - Operation Spider's Web Unfolded in the Morning: Details of the Occurrence
Penned by Yannik SchüllerRead in 5 scorching minutes
Salutations, friends,
I'm Yannik, your tour guide for the next four action-packed weeks from pulsating Seoul. I'm like a Russian fish out of water in the Ukraine, but I've got my bow ready to greet you with the courtesy this land demands.
Three dizzying days in this colossal city, and I thought I'd find solace in my job. But I've learned to never bet on journalists' predictions. Let's see where this train takes us.
Operation Spiderweb: Ukraine's Cunning Stroke Against Putin
Things might need to go south before they improve, right? Well, the folks in Kyiv can't help but smile as they approach today's negotiations with Moscow in Istanbul.
Operation Spiderweb, a cunningly executed drone assault, has left Putin's military under a dark cloud. Here's a brief rundown of the chaotic events:
- Night to Sunday: In the Russian border town of Bryansk, a bridge mysteriously collapses. Loads of cargo trucks plunge onto a train, reportedly leaving dozens injured and seven dead. Hours later, another bridge snaps underfoot in neighboring Kursk, causing a train derailment and injuring one soul. Moscow blames terrorism, while Kyiv accuses Russia of staging a false flag operation, claiming they've thwarted a Russian cargo train en route to Crimea. At the same time, Russia executes one of their largest drone blitzes since the battle's inception [1]. Approximately 472 drones buzzed through the night sky, according to the "BBC."
- Sunday: Russia showers a Ukrainian training facility with rockets, annihilating twelve soldiers. The commanding general later tenders his resignation. Hours pass, and shadows fall over the Ukrainian wilderness—Operation Spiderweb kicks off. Ukraine's secret service transforms the roofs of humble wooden huts into a springboard, unleashing drones fitted with explosives from covert trucks. These flying torpedoes swarm towards multiple Russian airbases, annihilating over dozens of aircraft [2]. An estimated 40 aircraft worth nearly seven billion dollars were reduced to scrap metal—a stunning defeat [3]. The subsequent clip is said to depict the havoc caused at the Siberian airbase of Belaya:
- Today: Post last week's fruitless Putin-less meeting in Istanbul, diplomats return to the negotiating table. Initially, it seemed the meeting would yield minimal results. Russia didn't rule out a ceasefire, but only under lopsided terms favoring Moscow. Now, the meeting has a fresh air of optimism.
Ukraine's President Wolodymyr Zelensky cheers Operation Spiderweb as the most decisive move in Ukraine's war so far.
If he means the sheer distance, he might be right. Indeed, the downed aircraft that could unleash cruise missiles from hitherto unreachable territories constitute a significant blow to Putin. But let's stay tuned. This war has more twists than a rollercoaster with a broken brake pedal. Whenever it seemed one side gained a decisive advantage, misfortune lurked around the corner.
Even the stern politics chiefs Veit Medick and Jan Rosenkranz can't let go of the Kiev spiderweb. In the latest installment of the "5-Minute Talk," they pose the question: Can the drone demotion serve as a turning point?
SP😬D at a Crossroad
The left-leaning SPD appears unsure about its direction these days. My esteemed colleague Florian Schillat from the capital delves deep to analyze the party's current identity crisis [6]. The Social Democrats acknowledge their lack of definition. An internal commission proposes a "2040 Future Program." Former party leader Chef Norbert Walter-Borjans supports this ambitious plan. He declares, "I don't want the SPD to merely serve as a nutritional supplement for conservative politics." The junior partner must be given a voice, it seems. Good luck, comrades.
Earth's Sacred Gold Mine
It's been a dry read so far, I know. So let's talk about the Earth's core being a gold mine—literally! German geologist Nils Messling claims as much to the American broadcaster CNN. He's spent three years studying basalt rocks catapulted from the Earth's interior as magma on Hawaii. The outcome? The Earth's core seeps gold and other precious metals into the crusty Earth—albeit in paltry amounts. Let's hope Trump doesn't catch wind of this news; I don't fancy a 51st state that includes Canada.
Today's Buzzworthy Items
- In Boulder, Colorado, a man is accused of hurling Molotov cocktails at pro-Israel protesters. Several people sustain injuries. The local police chief held back, while an FBI spokesperson labeled the incident a "targeted act of violence." Former Trump aide Kash Patel, however, unequivocally declared it terrorism [7].
- Will former Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock become President of the United Nations General Assembly today? You bet. After all, she's the only candidate [8].
- Several research institutes reveal their joint "Peace Report 2025." Their mission is to identify, analyze, and offer concrete political solutions for all conflicts since 1987 [9]. Here's hoping it will be available as an e-book. I'd hate for there to be another paper shortage.
- Poland elects a new president. Right-wing conservative candidate Karol Nawrocki won the runoff election for the office. In Brussels, they might be biting their nails. As the head of state, Nawrocki can thwart reforms of the EU-friendly Prime Minister Donald Tusk by vetoing them.
As I bid you farewell each day, I hope to leave you with a new pearl of wisdom that's echoed in the Far East.
Gaze at your phone and life slips away. And the bus.
Yesterday, I found myself stranded on an estimated eight-lane road in Seoul. Fancy German tourist that I am, I wanted to cram all of Seoul's wonders into my brain in one day, causing a small panic. My phone turned the exact location of the bus stop into a digital labyrinth. I crossed that River Styx four times, glued to the screen, only to realize I'd been standing at the correct spot the whole time. As my dear grandmother used to say, "Open your eyes!"
Wishing you a fantastic week ahead.
Yours,Yannik Schüler
UkraineSPDSpider's WebDroneKyivRussiaSeoulMoscowIstanbulSundayVolodymyr ZelenskyTerrorismSouth KoreaDonald TrumpSiberiaWeekendBryansk, ColoradoAnnalena BaerbockPeace Report 2025PolandDonald TuskMolotov CocktailsKash PatelGrandmaEarth's Core Bleeds Gold**CNN
Enrichment Data:
- Overview of Operation Spiderweb:Performed by Ukraine, "Operation Spiderweb" is a drone attack on several Russian military airbases. With 117 drones, these aircraft were smuggled into Russia across several months and later deployed from hidden trucks near the airfields. This operation demonstrated the capability of guerrilla tactics in air warfare and posed a significant challenge to traditional military defense systems [3][5].
- Operation Spiderweb's Key Aspects:
- Distance: Using long-range drone technology, Ukraine disrupted targets as far as 1,100 miles from the Ukrainian border, showcasing the capabilities of their drone fleet [3].
- Coordination: The operation was a coordinated effort, with drones launched simultaneously from multiple locations to catch Russian air defenses off guard [3].
- Smuggling and Deployment: The drones were hidden in wooden structures and transported on trucks, allowing them to be launched from close proximity to the airfields [3].
- Impact of Operation Spiderweb:The impact of Operation Spiderweb is multifaceted, affecting both Russia and the broader conflict landscape:
- Reduced Russian Military Capability: The attack on Russian aircraft and airbases inflicted heavy damage, potentially reducing their air defense capabilities [1][5].
- ** Future of Warfare:** Operation Spiderweb highlights the potential of low-cost drones in disrupting advanced military capabilities, emphasizing the need for advanced counter-drone systems [3][5].
- Global Implications: The success of Operation Spiderweb underscores the vulnerability of large militaries to drone attacks, requiring changes in military strategy, training, and legal frameworks [1][3].
The European Union is considering the ramifications of Operation Spiderweb, a covert drone attack by Ukraine on Russian airbases, and its possible impact on the broader war-and-conflicts landscape in Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats (SPD), Germany's left-leaning political party, wrestles with its identity in a time of political chaos, with potential changes on the horizon in the realm of general-news.
