Ukraine’s Attack Exposed America’s Achilles’ Heel

The New York Times ^ | June 4, 2025, 1:00 a.m. ET | W.J. Hennigan

[E. Pluribus Unum]

It turns out Volodymyr Zelensky did have another card to play.

Ukraine’s astonishing drone attack on military airfields and critical assets deep inside Russia on Sunday blindsided the Kremlin, destroyed at least a dozen strategic bombers and marked a seismic shift in modern warfare.

The mission, dubbed Operation Spider’s Web, was a fresh reminder to leaders of the world’s most advanced militaries that the toughest threats they face today are not limited to their regular rivals with expensive gear. Instead, swarms of small, off-the-shelf drones that can evade ground defenses can also knock out billions of dollars of military hardware in an instant.

What happened in Russia can happen in the United States — or anywhere else. The risk facing military bases, ports and command headquarters peppered across the globe is now undeniably clear.

We don’t yet know if the operation will impact the Trump administration’s push for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, but it nonetheless delivered a tactical defeat to Russia’s military and will put pressure on President Vladimir Putin to respond. And what is almost certain is that the innovative use of inexpensive technology will inspire other asymmetric attacks that inflict serious damage against a well-heeled adversary.

Mr. Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, called the attack, which was planned by Ukraine’s Security Service, or S.B.U., his country’s “longest-range operation.” By smuggling more than 100 explosive-laden quadcopter drones across the border in cargo trucks, Ukraine managed to evade air defenses and then fly the drones undetected above four Russian bases, where they damaged or destroyed what Ukrainian officials said were more than 40 high-value aircraft used in the assault on Ukrainian cities. Those involved with the attack left Russia before it began, Ukrainian officials said. The operators could watch live video and hover the aircraft above their targets before steering them...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

[Antihero101607]

Fairly certain that the U.S. government has already planned, or at least started to plan for that contingency. I believe it was the CIA used to hire science fiction writers to come up with various threats and scenarios to address.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

I’m with Alex Jones on this.

On a scale of 1-10 for vulnerability to this type of sabotage attack Russia is about a 1.

America is a 10.

[nickcarraway]

Remember the dreaded weather balloon attack?

The thing is Ukraine borders Russia. The U.S.' enemies don't border us. I see a drone attack from Canada or Mexico. Yes, I'm sure Mexican cartels don't love the U.S., but they know if they make too much trouble in U.S. borders, it's bad for business. If they use drones, it would be for smuggling, and they will want them under the radar.

[nickcarraway]

You mean Russia isn’t vulnerable, and the U.S. is extremely vulnerable? How so? And where would this drone strike be launched from?

[Sertorius]

Map shows Chinese-owned farmland next to 19 US military bases in ‘alarming’ threat to national security: experts

[mass55th]

"I believe it was the CIA used to hire science fiction writers to come up with various threats and scenarios to address."

They also hired known Nazi war criminals.

[Sertorius]

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4245601/posts

[dadgum]

The Chinese spy balloons were mapping every millimeter of our infrastructure, in order to assess vulnerabilities and create a plan for sappers to utilize coordinated mass drone attacks.

And our government allowed it to happen.

Biden and his handlers should go to hell.

[nitzy]

And where would this drone strike be launched from?

Same place as the ones that hit Russia....right next to the targets.

They were launched by Ukrainian forces who infiltrated Russia's borders and managed to get close enough to attack the targets with drones. So, like....10 miles away from them.

I can assure you that there are currently thousands of Iranian, Chinese, North Korean, Russian, Egyptian, Saudi, Mexican, Venezuelan, Cuban, etc... agents who could get within 10 miles of sensitive US targets.

When it happens, just like after 9/11, they will blame everything under the sun EXCEPT for lax immigration policies.

[Mi-kha-el]

From Chinese cargo ship containers?

[Tell It Right]

Three words:

Three Gorges Dam (actually one word LOL)

[Uncle Miltie]

I know of an American air base where the planes are arranged in lines.

Nuts!

[packrat35]

I fear a drone attack from within. With 30 million illegals in the country, who is to say how many aren’t terrorists?

[MinorityRepublican]

The Chinese spy balloons were mapping every millimeter of our infrastructure, in order to assess vulnerabilities and create a plan for sappers to utilize coordinated mass drone attacks.

China is not interested in invading USA. Why would they want to do that?

However, they want to conquer Taiwan.

Ultimately, it's up to the people of Taiwan to protect their sovereignty just like the Ukrainians in their war with Russia.

[Vermont Lt]

I imagine that people in our security services have been trying to plan for the attacks by some of the Iranian jihadis that crossed the borders in the past five years.

Just a few of them with standard AR15s could really ruin a weekend sporting event or parade.

Of course, Iran would then become a skid mark on the bottom of west Asia.

[Vermont Lt]

You could have a thread here on FR where people proposed how to attack US assets from within.

Then FR would be shut down and all of us would find ourselves in dark rooms with agents named “Dave.”

[dadgum]

Not invade the USA. Decaptitate the USA and degrade our ability to sustain projection of US military strength in the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and the China Seas.

[blitz128]

Exposes everyone’s vulnerability, the unit observed in has 12 tankers with a road passing within 3-400 yards

[T.B. Yoits]

The U.S.' enemies don't border us.

Our enemies have been within our borders for decades.