Ukraine battle briefing: Putin but to retaliate in complete drive over Operation Spiderweb, officers say

Vladimir Putin’s threatened retaliation towards Ukraine over its drone assault on Russia’s bomber fleet has now not took place but in earnest, in spite of heavy bombardment of Kharkiv and Kyiv the previous two days, and is perhaps an important, multi-pronged strike quickly, US officers have advised Reuters. One senior western diplomat expected a “huge, vicious and unrelenting” attack through Moscow.

Michael Kofman, a Russia professional on the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, stated Russia would possibly search to punish Ukraine’s SBU home safety company which orchestrated final weekend’s attack, perhaps using intermediate-range ballistic missiles, in addition to focused on defence production websites. Still, Kofman steered Russia’s choices for retaliation could also be restricted, because it used to be already throwing a large number of its army would possibly at Ukraine. “In general, Russia’s ability to substantially escalate strikes from what they are already doing – and attempting to do over the past month – is quite constrained.”

The Ukrainian drone assault – referred to as Operation Spiderweb – most probably broken about 10% of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet and hit one of the most plane as they have been being ready for moves on Ukraine, consistent with a German army evaluation. Maj Gen Christian Freuding advised a YouTube podcast that “more than a dozen aircraft were damaged, TU-95 and TU-22 strategic bombers as well as A-50 surveillance planes”. He stated “only a handful” of the A-50s exist and will now not be used for spare portions.

Despite the losses, Freuding didn’t see any instant aid of Russian moves towards Ukraine, noting that Moscow retained 90% of its strategic bombers, which will release ballistic and cruise missiles along with losing bombs. “But there is, of course, an indirect effect as the remaining planes will need to fly more sorties, meaning they will be worn out faster, and, most importantly, there is a huge psychological impact.”

Freuding stated Russia had felt protected in its huge territory, which additionally defined why there used to be little coverage for the plane. “After this successful operation, this no longer holds true. Russia will need to ramp up the security measures.”

Russia and Ukraine have accused every different of thwarting a large-scale prisoner trade that used to be agreed within the final week, with Kyiv denying Russian allegations that it had indefinitely the postponed prisoner swaps whilst accusing Moscow of “playing dirty games”. At talks in Istanbul on Monday, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to liberate greater than 1,000 other folks on every aspect, whilst Russia stated it might additionally hand again the stays of 6,000 killed Ukrainian squaddies.

Russia’s defence ministry stated in a observation: “The Russian side has provided the Ukrainian side with a list of 640 names, but the Ukrainian side is currently refraining from setting a date for the return of these individuals and the transfer of the corresponding number of Russian prisoners of war.”

Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War stated no date have been agreed for the go back of our bodies and {that a} listing of names Russia stated could be launched didn’t fit the phrases of the settlement. Andriy Kovalenko, an reliable with Ukraine’s nationwide safety and defence council, stated “statements by the Russian side do not correspond to reality”.