Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed that Ukraine will "pay" for its recent audacious drone attacks on Russian airbases, marking a dramatic escalation in the ongoing conflict and raising fears of further violence across the region.
The crisis intensified following Ukraine’s meticulously planned operation, codenamed "Spiderweb," which saw dozens of drones launched from within Russia itself, targeting airfields deep in Russian territory some as far as 4,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The attack, which unfolded on June 1, resulted in the destruction of at least 12 Russian bombers, delivering a significant blow to Moscow’s strategic air power and providing a morale boost for Ukrainians who have endured years of relentless aerial bombardment.
In the wake of the strikes, President Putin delivered a stern warning to his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, during a phone call, stating unequivocally that Russia would "have to respond" to what the Kremlin labeled as "terrorist acts" by Kyiv. Trump later confirmed the gravity of Putin’s tone, saying the Russian leader was "very strong" in his promise of retaliation, though he noted that their conversation was "not one that will lead to immediate peace".
True to his word, Putin authorized a massive wave of drone and missile attacks across Ukraine just days later. Kyiv and several other regions were pummeled in what Ukrainian officials described as one of the largest aerial assaults since the war began. At least six people were killed and dozens injured as Russia unleashed more than 400 drones and over 40 missiles, targeting not only military infrastructure but also residential areas, schools, and government buildings. The Russian Ministry of Defense declared these strikes a direct response to Ukraine’s airbase attacks, signaling that more such operations could follow.
The scale and precision of Ukraine’s "Spiderweb" operation have sparked intense debate within Russia about Putin’s capacity to escalate further. While the Kremlin’s initial retaliation was fierce, it did not introduce a new level of violence beyond what Ukrainians have already endured over the past three years. Still, many in Ukraine are bracing for "many such retaliations – once a month, or even more," as one Kyiv resident told reporters.
Analysts suggest that the boldness of Ukraine’s strike has placed Putin in a difficult position. While Russia remains militarily dominant on the battlefield and continues to advance in certain regions, the psychological and political impact of losing strategic bombers on home soil is significant. Experts warn that if Ukraine continues to mount such "humiliating" operations, Putin will face mounting pressure to deliver a qualitatively different and more dramatic response to reassure his domestic audience and maintain his image as a strongman leader.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict have stalled. President Zelenskyy of Ukraine insisted that the drone strikes would not have occurred had Russia accepted a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal, which Moscow rejected just days before the attacks. Talks in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators yielded little progress, with both sides agreeing only to another prisoner exchange.
As the cycle of attack and retaliation threatens to spiral further, the world watches with apprehension. The coming weeks may reveal whether Putin will escalate his response or whether Ukraine’s bold new tactics will force a reconsideration of strategies on both sides.