Months after US President Donald Trump mocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for “not having any cards,” Zelenskyy hit back. On Sunday, Ukraine launched a massive drone assault inside Russia. The strike targeted five airbases and possibly a submarine base. Remarkably, the drones even reached deep into Siberia.

Ukraine called the mission Operation Spider Web. It used 117 drones to strike strategic Russian targets. As a result, the attack damaged nearly one-third of Russia’s long-range bombers and AEWAC aircraft.

Ukraine Shows the War Isn’t Over

Clearly, Ukraine wanted to send a message — the war is far from over. Despite Russia’s superior firepower, Ukraine used smart and bold tactics. It proved that it could strike back hard.

Although Trump kept saying Ukraine was losing, the ground situation shows otherwise. According to Shreya Sinha of the Vivekananda International Foundation, “Russia’s incremental gains and Ukraine’s resilient defence signal not victory, but a prolonged stalemate.” In fact, Russia has gained just 1% of Ukrainian territory in 2024.

Ukraine Breaks Russia’s Image of Strength

Earlier, the world mostly saw footage of Ukraine suffering Russian airstrikes. However, that changed on Sunday. Videos showed drones flying out of trucks and destroying Russian aircraft. These visuals quickly grabbed global attention.

Consequently, Russia no longer looks unstoppable. Even Trump’s claims of Russian victory now seem exaggerated. As Sinha put it, “Ukraine’s drone strikes have communicated the nation’s resilience and innovation.” She added that Ukraine had become a powerful player in hybrid drone warfare.

Russia Faces Heavy Losses

So far, Russia has paid a steep price in this war. Its Black Sea fleet is nearly out of action. It has lost a third of its long-range bombers and almost half of its AWAC fleet. In addition, Ukraine has eliminated several top Russian generals. The Russian military has suffered close to one million troop casualties.

Geopolitics expert Swasti Rao said, “Despite outnumbering and outgunning Ukraine, Russia has suffered disproportionately higher losses.” Moreover, although Russia now controls 19% of Ukrainian land, most of that was seized before the 2022 invasion:

• 4–5% in Crimea (2014)

• 2–3% in eastern Ukraine (2014–2022)

• Only 12% since the full-scale invasion in 2022

Importantly, Ukraine caused $7–8 billion in damage using drones that cost only a few million dollars. As Rao noted, “More than weapons, Ukraine lacks soldiers. But with innovation in drone warfare, it has compensated for its lower numbers.”

Furthermore, she said, “Russia is now more dependent on China. For a superpower to become a junior partner of a rising power is a major loss of reputation.”

Ukraine Gains a Stronger Voice in Peace Talks

Beyond military results, Zelenskyy also aimed to strengthen Ukraine’s role in diplomacy. According to Rao, “Ukraine sought, and successfully acquired, a relative position of strength in ongoing negotiations with these strikes.”

Although Ukraine may not reclaim all lost regions, the attacks give it more power in talks. Ukraine can now demand stronger terms and possibly even security guarantees.

Previously, Trump had claimed that “Ukraine having a seat at the table” was not necessary. Now, Zelenskyy has proven him wrong. Ukraine has taken down Russian warships, assassinated generals, and destroyed key aircraft. As Rao put it, Ukraine has called out Putin’s bluff.

What Lies Ahead?

Following the strikes, Putin promised retaliation. He repeated this during a phone call with Trump. Nevertheless, experts believe a nuclear strike or large-scale ground invasion is unlikely.

Currently, Russia already launches daily drone and missile attacks. Therefore, increasing the scale may not matter much. Besides, allies like China and India have warned Putin against using nuclear weapons.

Also, Russia may not have enough troops or supplies for another full-scale ground offensive. Analyst Kseniya Kirillova said, “It appears that Putin is reluctant to declare such a mobilisation and is instead interested in a temporary pause.”

According to her, internal unrest in Russia could shape Putin’s next steps. She stated, “It is weakness, not strength, that provokes Putin.”

Final Takeaway

Ultimately, Ukraine’s drone strikes have changed the course of the war. They weakened Russia’s military and gave Ukraine stronger bargaining power. While the end of the war remains uncertain, Zelenskyy has shown that Ukraine still holds powerful cards.