Unleashing Havoc: Ukraine Takes Down Russian Air Fleet - The Morning Scoop
- authored by Yannik Schulz
- approx 5 mins read
Unraveling 'Operation Spiderweb's Violent Pursuit of Peace - A Morning Recap of Events - Unraveling Operation Spider's Web: Daylight Reveals Unfolding Incident
Hey there, folks! Greetings from the bustling city of Seoul. I'm your new guide here, taking over from Mirjam Bittner and Christine Leitner. With South Korea's hospitality on full display, I feel like a fish out of water in Ukraine. But let's dive into the news, shall we?
On the Wings of destruction: Operation Spider's Web strikes Russia
They say the darkness must grow before the dawn. In Kiev, the citizens should be celebrating the latest round of talks with Moscow, due today in Istanbul, with a more promising negotiation stance.
Operation Spider's Web, set by Ukraine in motion, allegedly crippled a massive chunk of Russia's military aviation. Here's how it all went down:
- Nightfall to Sunday: A bridge collapse in the Russian border regions of Bryansk, with trucks plummeting onto a train, left numerous civilians injured, and seven dead. Hours later, another bridge collapse occurred in Kursk followed by a train derailment, leaving one civilian wounded. Moscow branded these incidents as terrorism, while Kiev claimed a Russian false-flag operation, involving the derailment of a cargo train en route to Crimea. Russia retaliated with one of its largest drone operations since the war, with reports of 472 drones spotted that fateful night[1].
- Sunday: With a deafening roar, Russia pummeled a Ukrainian training center with rockets, causing the gruesome demise of 12 soldiers, leading to the resignation of the responsible Ukrainian general. Hot on its heels, "Operation Spider's Web" unfolded: the Ukrainian intelligence service launched combat drones loaded with explosives, remotely controlled from hidden trucks, assaulting 4 military air bases, and annihilating over three dozen aircraft - an unparalleled success[1]. According to some sources, around 40 combat-ready aircraft worth seven billion dollars vanished in flames, accounting for approximately a third of the Russian bomber fleet[1][4]. The following video captures the sensational attack on Siberia's Belaya air base, thousands of kilometers apart from Kiev[2]:
- Today: Two weeks after the previous meeting in Istanbul that ended in stalemate, the diplomats prepare for another round. What a different landscape it presents now. Initially, hardly anything seemed forthcoming from this meeting, but that's all changed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hails the long-awaited drone strike as the "most impactful operation of Ukraine in the war so far."
If he refers to the sheer distance, he might be right. The loss of the bombers that could launch cruise missiles from previously unattainable distances is undoubtedly a heavy blow to Putin. But let's hold our breath. The Ukrainian-Russian conflict possesses more turns than a rollercoaster, and victories have been short-lived at best.
Even severe political watchdogs, Veit Medick, and Jan Rosenkranz can't shake the allure of Kiev's web. In the new issue of the "5-Minute Talk," these two ponder: Is the drone demotion a turning point?
Reviving the SPD essentials
Attention, some tidbits ahead!
Speaking of uncertain futures, the SPD (formerly known as the People's Party) has been grappling with vagueness recently. My venerable capital colleague Florian Schillat offers his sharp insights on the party's struggle with finding its outline. The Social Democrats are fully aware of their lack of clarity. An internal commission proposes "Future Program 2040" to remedy the situation. Former party leader Norbert Walter-Borjans is also on board with this proposal. He declares that the SPD should not merely serve as conservative politics' supplement but should assert itself, loud and clear[1]. Best of luck, party comrades!
The Earth's Core - A Golden Stream
I dare say, we've got some glitzy knowledge for you! Our Earth is actually bleeding gold. Yes, you heard it right – gold!
German geologist Nils Messling shared this intriguing revelation with the US broadcaster CNN. Messling has been studying basalt rocks that erupted as magma from the Earth's core for over three years in Hawaii. The results? Gold and other precious metals, albeit in minute amounts, infiltrate the Earth's crust[3]. Hopefully, no one alerts Donald Trump to this, or else he might claim the Earth's core as the 52nd state, overlooking Canada...
What's brewing today
- In Boulder, Colorado, a suspect is under arrest for hurling Molotov cocktails at pro-Israel demonstrators, leaving several people injured. The police chief has held back, with an FBI spokesman characterizing the incident as a "targeted act of violence". Kash Patel branded the incident as an act of terrorism[1].
- Will former Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock be elected President of the UN General Assembly today? Spoiler alert: Yes. Being the only candidate in the race, she's got the job all sewn up[1].
- Research organizations will present their collaborative Peace Report 2025 today. The report attempts to identify, analyze, and provide practical political recommendations for conflicts that have arisen since 1987[3]. Here's hoping for an online version, to prevent a paper catastrophe.
- Poland prepares to elect its new president. In the runoff election for the office, right-wing conservative Karol Nawrocki claimed victory. The European Union might find themselves biting their nails, as Nawrocki can veto EU-friendly Prime Minister Donald Tusk's reforms[1].
Stay golden, dear readers! Head into the week ahead with a new gem of wisdom I've picked up here in the East:
Whoever's captivated by their phone, misses life - and the bus.
I stood amidst the swarming traffic of Seoul (estimated to be an eight-lane road) the other day, as a diligent tourist, determined to explore the city. My phone convinced me to cross the busy thoroughfare four times, glued to the screen, only to realize I was at the correct bus stop the whole time. As my grandmother used to say, "Make the best of it!"
Here's to a fantastic start of your week. Happy reading!
Warm regards, Yannik Schulz
[1] https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-says-hit-russian-bombers-in-spider-drone-operation/a-61177936[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61316383[3] https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/gold-corn-rain-news-bhr/index.html[4] https://www.dw.com/en/what-has-ukraine-done-in-operation-spider-s-web/a-61246490[5] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/03/29/ukraine-launches-deadly-strike-russia-using-drones-poof-bombers/
- The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's hailing of the drone strike as the "most impactful operation of Ukraine in the war so far," raises questions about its implication on future negotiations and politics within the European Union, war-and-conflicts, general-news.
- Meanwhile, in domestic politics within the European Union, the Social Democrats (SPD) face uncertainty and the need for clarification in their future program, politics, general-news. In this context, the publication of "Future Program 2040" is a significant step towards finding a clear direction for the party, politics, general-news.
