Inside Operation Spider’s Web

2025-06-04

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Operation Spider’s Web was an audacious Ukrainian sneak attack that caused billions of dollars in damage to Russian warplanes — using drones that cost as little as $600.Marc Santora, a reporter covering the war in Ukraine for The New York Times, explains why this strike on Sunday, which extended 3,000 miles into Russia, is already being seen as a signal event in the evolution of modern warfare.Guest: Marc Santora, has been reporting from Ukraine since the beginning of the war with Rus...

Operation Spider’s Web was an audacious Ukrainian sneak attack that caused billions of dollars in damage to Russian warplanes — using drones that cost as little as $600.

Marc Santora, a reporter covering the war in Ukraine for The New York Times, explains why this strike on Sunday, which extended 3,000 miles into Russia, is already being seen as a signal event in the evolution of modern warfare.

Guest: Marc Santora, has been reporting from Ukraine since the beginning of the war with Russia.

Background reading

In its attacks on Russian airfields, Ukraine aimed for a strategic and symbolic blow.

Ukraine showed it can still flip the script on how wars are waged.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Photo: Capella Space/Handout, via Reuters

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