1). “Mark Sleboda On Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb: Truth Of What Really Happened”, June 2, 2025, Jamarl Thomas interviews Mark Sleboda, Jamarl Thomas, duration of video 26:27, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
2). “Mark Sleboda: How Will Moscow Retaliate On Kiev? Enough Restraint!? US Exploits Putin's Peace Talks?”, June 2, 2025, Jamarl Thomas interviews Mark Sleboda, Jamarl Thomas, duration of video 33:20, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
3). “Brian Berletic On Russian Retaliation After Kiev's Operation 'Spider's Web' ”, June 2, 2025, Jamarl Thomas interviews Brian Berletic, Jamarl Thomas, duration of video 18:04, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
4). “Russian Aviation's Darkest Hour Since WWII Gets 40-Second TV News Slot”, June 2, 2025, Brendan Cole, Newsweek, includes a 1 minute long video of a Ukrainian attack, at < https://www.newsweek.com/
5). “Kremlin Breaks Silence on Crimea Bridge Explosion”, Jun 4, 2025, Shane Croucher, Newsweek, includes a 13 second long video of the Ukrainian attack on the Crimea / Kerch Bridge, at < https://www.newsweek.com/
6). “Russia claims no damage after Ukrainian attack on Crimea bridge: Kremlin spokesman says ‘there was an explosion’, but ‘nothing was damaged’ and the ‘bridge is working’ ”, Jun 3, 2025, Anon, Aljazeera, at < https://www.aljazeera.com/
~~ recommended by dmorista ~~
Introduction by dmorista: On June 1st a secret and long-planned Ukrainian attack (in the works for 18 months at least) on Russian bombers and reconnaissance aircraft was carried out. It used small relatively cheap drones that were taken through Russia by truck and were launched when the trucks were abandoned. Two of the Russian Air Bases, Olenya north of the Arctic Circle and Belaya, in Siberia near Lake Baikal, were far distant from Ukraine. The original exultant news releases claimed that 41 Russian Bombers had been destroyed representing 34% of Russia's air assets worth $7 Billion. A more realistic figure was proposed later of 8 Bombers and 1 Reconnaissance aircraft damaged or destroyed, and that some of them might be repairable.
The Ukrainians also did some damage to bridges on Jun 2nd, including one on which a passenger train was passing when it suffered an explosion with numerous casualties. The most spectacular of the bridge attacks was yet another attempt to damage the Crimea / Kerch Bridge; by exploding 1,100 Kg of TNT underwater against one of the support pillars that hold the bridge up. Predictably the Ukrainian Security Service claims that the bridge is seriously damaged, while the Russians claim there is no significant damage. Probably the Russian claim is closer to the truth, an explosive charge attached to the pillar would allow most of the force to push outward against the minimal resistance of the water. The concrete pillar probably was only slightly damaged. The round structure in the water next to the pillar to the left, that is pretty much destroyed by the blast is a “dolphin”, a structure to protect the bridge structure from damage due to ship collisions (and these “dolphins” here look robust and large in contrast to the minimal and inadequate “dolphins” that failed to protect the bridge structure in Baltimore Harbor a few months ago). There are photos that show some damage to the road deck above, it was damaged by the expanding explosion from below. Bridges are generally difficult to bring down with explosives or bombs, in contrast to tunnels where the force of an explosion is confined
Nonetheless, these two campaigns against aircraft and bridges were major accomplishments, though they did not change the basically disastrous geostrategic situation that Ukraine faces, under heavy pressure from the Trump Regime to come to terms with the Russians.
Item 1)., “Mark Sleboda On Ukraine's ….”; Item 2)., “Mark Sleboda: How Will Moscow Retaliate ….”; and Item 3)., “Brian Berletic On Russian Retaliation ….”, all provide non NATO non-U.S. oriented analysis of the attacks on the Russian airbases and bridges and the likely response of the Russians.
Item 4)., “Russian Aviation's Darkest Hour ….”; and Item 5)., “Kremlin Breaks Silence ….”, both provide some video of the respective events and some standard Corporate Controlled media analysis.
In Item 6)., “Russia claims no damage ….”, Aljazeera reports that at the Istanbul Conference: “Russia told Ukraine at peace talks in Istanbul it would agree to end the war only if Kyiv gives up big new chunks of territory and accepts limits on the size of its army.”
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1). “Mark Sleboda On Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb: Truth Of What Really Happened”, June 2, 2025, Jamarl Thomas interviews Mark Sleboda, Jamarl Thomas, duration of video 26:27, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
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2). “Mark Sleboda: How Will Moscow Retaliate On Kiev? Enough Restraint!? US Exploits Putin's Peace Talks?”, June 2, 2025, Jamarl Thomas interviews Mark Sleboda, Jamarl Thomas, duration of video 33:20, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
3). “Brian Berletic On Russian Retaliation After Kiev's Operation 'Spider's Web' ”, June 2, 2025, Jamarl Thomas interviews Brian Berletic, Jamarl Thomas, duration of video 18:04, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Russian aviation's darkest hour since WWII gets 40-second TV news slot
Kremlin-controlled television dedicated less than a minute of its news coverage to what has been described as the largest single-day destruction of Russian military aircraft since World War II, it has been reported.
Two state channels in Russia only mentioned Ukraine's daring drone raid in 40-second segments, according to an assessment of coverage by independent outlet Agentstvo.
However, pro-Russian Telegram channels blamed the authorities for not adequately protecting military facilities from what was described as "Russia's Pearl Harbor," referring to Japan's attack on Hawaii on December 7, 1941.
The World War II comparisons did not end there.
John Spencer from the Modern War Institute said on Substack that Sunday marked the largest single-day destruction of Russian military aircraft since Operation Barbarossa in 1941 when Germany launched its surprise invasion of the USSR.
Newsweek has contacted the Russian defense ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The Kremlin strictly controls state media messaging over the war it started in Ukraine, but Russian bloggers on Telegram present a far more unvarnished view of hostilities.
The extent of Ukraine's operation, which targeted four airfields as far from the border as Irkutsk in Siberia, and comparisons with what Moscow faced in World War II, will deal a setback to Vladimir Putin.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said its operation, dubbed "Spiderweb," hit 41 Russian aircraft across four air bases on Sunday, according to Ukrainian media.
The operation involved 117 drones launched from trucks hidden across Russian territory and allegedly destroyed or damaged A-50, Tu-95, and Tu-22 M3 planes parked at the Belaya, Diaghilev, Olenya, and Ivanovo air bases.
Ukraine said that it had disabled one-third (34 percent) of Russia's strategic bomber fleet, although this has not been independently confirmed.
On his urban warfare Substack, Spencer described the attack as the largest single-day destruction of Russian military aircraft since Operation Barbarossa on June 22, 1941.
The German Luftwaffe destroyed between 1,200 and 2,000 Soviet aircraft on the ground in just hours, but since then, no single strike has inflicted such concentrated losses on Russian or Soviet aviation, Spencer wrote.
The reported destruction of at least 40 strategic bombers was unmatched in the post–World War II era, made all the more notable that it came not from an air force but by a drone-enabled ambush launched by a nation under siege, he added.
Agentsvo said that Channel One and Russia 1 devoted just 40 seconds each to one of the most daring operations during the full-scale war.
Presenters read out defense ministry statements that drones attacked airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur regions—the latter not mentioned by Ukrainian sources.
In the first two regions, the Russian TV anchors reported that "several units of aviation equipment" had caught fire, but no other details were provided, it said.
The relative silence continued Monday morning, according to Agentstvo, which said neither channel reported on their broadcasts at 9 a.m., although state agencies TASS and RIA Novosti began covering the attacks after the Defense Ministry issued its statement.
Russian Milbloggers Condemn Lapses
Russian military bloggers were more candid and critical. War correspondent Alexander Kots posted on Telegram that there is an ongoing problem with the protection of Russia's strategic facilities.
Another Telegram channel, "Military Informant", said Ukraine's drone attack on Russian bases "was only a matter of time."
The channel "Novorossiya Militia" said it was unclear why authorities protecting Russia's strategic aviation were unprepared for such an attack. Meanwhile, Alexey Zhivov wrote, "A 'Russian Pearl Harbor' has happened, and the future of our country and civilization depends on how we respond to it."
Yuriy Boyechko, CEO and Founder of Hope for Ukraine, told Newsweek on Monday that the success of Ukraine's drone attack showed that Kyiv "has some trump cards up its sleeve."
What People Are Saying
Independent Russian outlet Agentstvo: "First channel and Russia One dedicated 40 seconds each to Ukraine's largest attack on Russian air bases."
John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies, Modern War Institute on Substack: "Not in the Cold War, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Syria, or even the early years of this war has Russia suffered an airpower loss on this scale."
Military volunteer Alexey Zhivov on Telegram: "A 'Russian Pearl Harbor' has happened, and the future of our country and civilization depends on how we respond to it."
Yuriy Boyechko, CEO and Founder of Hope for Ukraine to Newsweek: "In one day, Ukrainian special forces with 117 FPV drones did what NATO forces had been training to do in case of a Russian attack on NATO states for the past 70 years."
What Happens Next
No diplomatic breakthrough on peace was expected as Russia held talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Monday, and eyes will turn to what Putin will do in response.
Aurélien Colson, academic co-director at the ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Business, told Newsweek Russia will likely step up missile and drone attacks, but resorting to nuclear weapons "is excluded" given the opposition of China, whose support Putin depends on.
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Kremlin breaks silence on Crimea bridge explosion
The Kremlin confirmed a Ukrainian attack on the Kerch Bridge that connects Russia to Crimea, but said the crossing remains operational and there was no damage, despite video footage capturing the moment an underwater explosion rocked the structure.
Ukraine's security service (SBU) revealed on June 3 it had carried out a special operation targeting the Crimean bridge, saying it had mined the underwater supports and the explosions left it "in disrepair." It was followed by a naval drone attack.
It was the third attack against the Crimean Bridge—a strategically important road and rail structure, and a symbol of Moscow's occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula—since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022.
Why It Matters
The Crimean Bridge is a critical supply and transport route for Russian forces in their ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The Kerch Bridge is also a physical representation of Moscow's view that the peninsula is an inseparable part of Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. Ukraine regards Crimea as its territory and the Russian occupation as temporary, and says it will never recognize Moscow's sovereignty.
What to Know
The SBU's latest operation against the bridge follows its mass drone strike on Russia's nuclear-capable strategic bombers on June 1—dubbed by some observers as "Russia's Pearl Harbor"—delivering a double blow for Moscow.
In a post on Telegram, the SBU said its agents had mined the underwater supports of the bridge in an operation months in the planning, detonating the first device at 4:44 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
The SBU said it had "badly damaged" those supports with the explosives, which had the blast equivalent of 1,100 kilograms of TNT. "In fact, the bridge is in disrepair," the SBU said.
"There was indeed an explosion." Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said at a press briefing on June 4, Meduza reported, adding "nothing was damaged. The bridge is operational."
"The Kyiv regime continues its attempts to attack civilian infrastructure. The Russian side is taking appropriate precautionary measures, based on the well-known and obvious nature of the Kyiv regime."
Newsweek has contacted Ukraine's security service for comment via email to its press office.
The Black Sea peninsula is home to a large Russian-speaking majority and Russia's only warm water naval base.
Putin views the Soviet-era decision to make Crimea Ukrainian territory in 1954 as a major error, one that he sought to correct. Ukraine gained its independence from Moscow—and took Crimea with it—in the collapse of the Soviet Union during the 1990s.
What People Are Saying
Vasyl Malyuk, head of the SBU, said on June 3 when announcing the operation: "God loves the Trinity, and the SBU always completes its plans and never repeats itself. Earlier, we hit the Crimean Bridge twice in 2022 and 2023. So today we continued this tradition under water.
"No illegal objects of the Russian Federation have a place on the territory of our state. Therefore, the Crimean bridge is an absolutely legitimate target, especially given that the enemy used it as a logistical artery to supply its troops.
"Crimea is Ukraine, and any manifestations of occupation will receive our harsh response."
What Happens Next
The war continues to rage, with Russia and Ukraine hitting each other with waves of drone attacks and other strikes.
The two sides are again engaging in direct negotiations after a more than three-year hiatus, though progress towards a potential ceasefire is slow.
They have now exchanged memoranda on their ceasefire demands, and further talks are expected in the coming days.
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Russia claims no damage after Ukrainian attack on Crimea bridge
Kremlin spokesman says ‘there was an explosion’, but ‘nothing was damaged’ and the ‘bridge is working’.
The Kremlin says a Ukrainian attack on a road and rail bridge linking occupied Crimea to Russia caused no damage.
Ukraine’s SBU security service on Tuesday claimed it hit the bridge below the water level with explosives, in its third attack on the key supply line for Russian forces in the war-torn country.
The Kremlin on Wednesday confirmed the explosion but insisted the bridge remained fully functional.
“There was an explosion,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “Nothing was damaged. The bridge is working.”
Peskov added that Russia was taking precautionary steps in response to continued threats.
The SBU had said in a statement that about 1,100kg (2,420 pounds) of explosives were detonated on Tuesday morning to destroy underwater pillars of the bridge over the Kerch Strait in an operation prepared for several months.
“Previously, we hit the Crimean Bridge twice, in 2022 and 2023. So today we continued this tradition underwater,” it said. “The bridge is now effectively in an emergency condition.”
The SBU shared video footage that claimed to show an explosion next to one of the many support pillars of the bridge.
Russian military bloggers said the attack had been unsuccessful and speculated that it had been carried out by a Ukrainian sea drone.
The official Russian outlet providing regular status updates on the bridge said its operation had been suspended for about three hours between 4am and 7am local time (01:00 GMT and 04:00 GMT).
It gave no reason for the temporary closure but said the bridge had been reopened and was functioning as normal.
The 19km (12-mile) Crimea Bridge is the only direct link between the transport network of Russia and the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
The bridge was a flagship project for Russian President Vladimir Putin. It consists of a separate roadway and railway, both supported by concrete stilts, which give way to a wider span held by steel arches at the point where ships pass between the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov.
The bridge was used by Russian forces during their invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, when they crossed it to reach Crimea and from there went on to seize parts of Ukraine’s southern Kherson and southeastern Zaporizhia regions.
Russia’s attack
Meanwhile, in northeastern Ukraine, Russian troops seized another village in the Sumy region, Russian officials said on Wednesday.
The Russian Ministry of Defence announced it had captured Kindrativka, alongside Ridkodub, in eastern Ukraine.
Recent Russian gains in the northeast bring the regional capital, Sumy, closer to the front line and within range of Russian drone activity, according to analysts.
Ukrainian officials reported that Russian shelling struck Sumy on Tuesday, killing four civilians and injuring 28.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at least one rocket fired from a multiple rocket launcher had failed to detonate and lodged itself in an apartment building.
Commenting on the attack, Zelenskyy said on his Telegram channel: “That’s all one needs to know about the Russian wish to end this war.”
“The situation in the border area of Sumy region remains complex, dynamic, but controllable,” Oleh Hryhorov, head of the regional military administration, told the Reuters news agency. He added that Russian forces continue to target homes, farms and civilian infrastructure.
Russia denies targeting civilians since it launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Local leaders held an emergency meeting to discuss strengthening the region’s defences as cross-border attacks escalate.
Despite battlefield losses, Kyiv launched a string of high-profile strikes in recent days, including attacks on Russian strategic bombers and the Crimean Bridge.
On Monday, Russia told Ukraine at peace talks in Istanbul it would agree to end the war only if Kyiv gives up big new chunks of territory and accepts limits on the size of its army. Ukraine has repeatedly rejected the Russian conditions as tantamount to surrender.
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