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Operation Spiderweb: Ukrainian drones hit Russia’s bomber fleet

Ukraine has carried out what may be the most damaging drone strike in military history, reportedly destroying or disabling over 30% of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet.

The operation, more than a year in the making, involved smuggling first-person-view (FPV) drones into Russian territory. According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the attack caused around $7 billion in damages and disabled 34% of cruise missile carriers stationed at key Russian air bases.

Intelligence teams covertly transported up to 150 attack drones and 300 rounds of ammunition into Russia. The drones were hidden in containers and transported to attack sites near Russian military installations in civilian semi-trailers and trucks. 117 drones were successfully launched, controlled remotely through Russian telecommunications networks using artificial intelligence auto-homing systems.

Striking during daylight from short distances within Russia’s rear, the drones overwhelmed defenses including anti-aircraft systems, electronic jamming, and patrols. The assault on the Tu-95 base at Olenya was particularly destructive, igniting fuel tanks and destroying numerous aircraft.

Ukrainian officials described the strike as unprecedented, both in scale and sophistication. No Ukrainian personnel were lost, and all operatives reportedly returned safely. In total, 41 aircraft across four bases have so far been confirmed as damaged.

Both Ukrainian sources and U.S. officials confirmed that the U.S. government was not informed in advance and provided no intelligence support for the mission. Moscow has requested emergency consultations with Washington regarding what it views as an attack on its strategic nuclear forces.

Reports on social media today indicate that Russian security forces have launched a crackdown on truck transportation in some parts of the country, in order to check for additional Ukrainian drones. This has the potential to paralyze Russian logistics networks.

The operation came just hours after Russia launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine to date, deploying 472 Shahed-type drones overnight on 1 June, surpassing the previous record of 355 set on 26 May. In addition to unmanned aerial vehicles, Russia also fired three Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles and four Kh-101 or Iskander-K cruise missiles.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported intercepting 210 drones, with another 172 neutralized via electronic warfare. Drones were engaged in 18 locations across the country. From 24 to 26 May, Russia launched 298 drones in one night, followed by 355 the next—marking a dramatic escalation.

This intensifying aerial war forms the backdrop to upcoming peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, scheduled for today in Istanbul. The Kremlin has said it will submit a memorandum outlining its ceasefire terms at the meeting, although it has previously failed to deliver on similar promises. The first round of negotiations on 16 May yielded no breakthroughs, though 1,000 prisoners of war were exchanged.

Russia continues to reject calls for an unconditional ceasefire. Meanwhile, Russian ground forces are making small but steady progress pushing into Ukrainian territory, especially around the city of Sumy. The Russian ‘meat grinder’ assaults are causing heavy casualties, around 1,000 Russian soldiers at day, and it’s unclear how long Russia can continue to maintain losses at this level.

Yesterday’s Operation Spiderweb episode represents a turning point in modern warfare. Using modified hobby drones and artificial intelligence, Ukraine inflicted severe losses on high-value military assets. This should be an alarming development for advanced militaries reliant on expensive traditional military platforms.

Our CEO, Dr. Norman Ricklefs, warned of such transformations in a 2019 article on Medium. An updated version will be published soon on Substack.

Europe's center of gravity shifts east, politics moves right, hostility to migrants from the south rises, as ties with the U.S. fray

Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election

Poland’s National Electoral Commission has declared Karol Nawrocki the winner of the country’s presidential election, securing 50.89% of the vote. Rafał Trzaskowski, his opponent, garnered 49.11%.

Nawrocki, a historian by training, has served since 2021 as head of the Institute of National Remembrance. From 2017 to 2021, he was director of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk. His academic work focuses on the anticommunist opposition in Poland, organized crime in the Polish People's Republic, and the history of sports.

In February 2024, the Russian Federation issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with efforts to remove Soviet-era monuments from Polish territory, built between 1944 and 1989.

Nawrocki advocates ending the war in Ukraine through a peace settlement, though he insists that any territorial concessions must be determined by both Ukraine and the broader European community.

A self-described conservative and Euroskeptic, Nawrocki campaigned on a platform described as patriotic, pro-Christian, pro-NATO and supportive of President Donald Trump. He holds culturally conservative positions and has accused the ruling coalition and LGBT groups of “sexualizing children.” In a widely covered moment during the campaign, he shredded a copy of Gender Queer: A Memoir as a protest. He supports close cooperation between the Catholic Church and the Polish government, widespread criminalization of abortion, and opposes the legalization of same-sex marriage or civil unions, citing Catholic moral teachings.

In foreign policy, Nawrocki supports deeper ties with the U.S. and NATO while opposing further European integration. On 2 May 2025, he met President Donald Trump at the Oval Office.

Birth pangs in the birthplace of civilization

U.S. presents first written nuclear proposal to Iran

The United States submitted its first formal written proposal to Iran for a nuclear agreement on 1 June.

The U.S. proposal presented by White House envoy Steve Witkoff calls for Iran to halt all enrichment activities and proposes the establishment of a regional nuclear energy consortium involving Iran, Saudi Arabia, other Arab states, and the U.S.

The proposal was conveyed through Omani intermediaries and later disclosed in a post on social media by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The White House subsequently confirmed its authenticity.

Araghchi stated that Iran would assess the offer “in line with the principles, national interests, and rights of the Iranian people.” He reiterated that Tehran would not relinquish its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.

This came as United Nations inspectors reported a sharp increase in Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

The report issued on 1 June by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) revealed that Iran now holds 408.6kg of uranium enriched to 60%, a near-weapons-grade level and a 50% increase since February. According to the agency, this stockpile is sufficient to produce fuel for approximately ten nuclear warheads if further enriched.

The IAEA described the development as a matter of “serious concern,” highlighting that Iran remains the only non-nuclear-armed state producing uranium at such high concentrations.

The U.S., Britain, France, and Germany, are preparing a resolution that would declare Iran in violation of its non-proliferation obligations, potentially leading to a referral to the United Nations Security Council.

Officials in the Trump administration estimate that Iran could produce weapons-grade uranium in under two weeks and might assemble a rudimentary nuclear device within months, should it decide to proceed.

Despite the heightened stakes, Trump remains optimistic that a diplomatic breakthrough is possible. Last week he confirmed reports that Israel had urged him to join a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities but said he had asked Netanyahu to refrain, given the ongoing talks.

Hamas seeks new Gaza truce talks

Hamas announced on Saturday that it had replied in detail to a U.S. ceasefire proposal, stating that it seeks a permanent end to hostilities, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and guarantees for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave.

The group’s statement also referenced a potential prisoner exchange: the release of 10 living Israeli hostages and the return of 18 bodies, in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian detainees.

This is after Hamas rejected a ceasefire plan proposed by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. That plan, approved by Israel, included a similar prisoner exchange arrangement in return for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza.

In a statement on Saturday, Witkoff described Hamas’s response as “totally unacceptable,” arguing that it “only takes us backward.”

Mexico judicial elections

On Sunday, Mexico conducted its first-ever public elections for nearly 2,700 federal and state judges, including all nine Supreme Court justices. The reform, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum and her Morena party, aims to eliminate judicial corruption. However, critics argue it threatens judicial independence and could impact foreign investment and trade agreements requiring impartial courts. Voter turnout was reportedly low, with many voters unfamiliar with the candidates.

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