Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb: Three Experts Weigh Fallout

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Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb Sparks Global Alarm: Experts Warn of Escalation and NATO’s Vulnerability

By TRH News Desk

NEW DELHI, June 3, 2025 –Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, a meticulously planned drone assault on Russian airbases that destroyed billions of dollars’ worth of nuclear-capable bombers, has triggered widespread concern among geopolitical experts and military analysts.

The operation, executed yesterday, and hailed as Ukraine’s longest-range strike yet, has not only exposed Russia’s vulnerabilities but also raised critical questions about NATO’s preparedness and the potential for a broader conflict.

Experts are weighing gravity of the situation, with warnings of escalation and calls for stronger Western defences.

General Mike Flynn, former US national security advisor, sounded the alarm on X, stating, “Zelenskyy gave the go ahead to attack parked Russian nuclear capable bombers without informing Trump… If Ukraine is willing to conduct strikes with strategic consequences without notifying the White House, we are no longer allies with coordination issues—we are co-belligerents flying blind.”

Flynn’s post, accompanied by an image of US B-52 bombers lined up at an airbase, underscores a chilling parallel: “Imagine any one of our big bomber bases having the exact same thing done to them. Very costly US Strategic Bombers can be taken out in the same way by anyone with access to inexpensive drones, delivery trucks, explosives, and a bit of technical knowledge.”

Flynn warns that Ukraine’s “brash” operation, while a short-term tactical win, could lead to a “long-term loss” for global stability, predicting a Russian response that could shift the “tides of warfare.”

Economist and geopolitical analyst Tuomas Malinen in response to Flynn stated, “Ukraine’s operation ‘Spiderweb’ shows how easy it’s to destroy bombers on the ground… NATO airfields are basically undefended against such attacks, and there’s little that can be done due to the sheer number of drones that can be launched.”

NATO’s airbases, like those in Russia, are susceptible to low-cost, high-impact drone attacks. He warns of an “escalatory spiral,” noting, “This is how wars expand: Ukraine attacks deep into Russia, Russia responds, possibly targeting NATO countries, accidentally or not.”

He sought to suggest that the West’s current defence strategies may be ill-equipped to handle the evolving nature of drone warfare, potentially drawing NATO into direct conflict.

Major General (Ret.) Shashi Asthana, a respected Indian military analyst, offered a scathing critique of Ukraine’s actions and the West’s role. In his X post, Asthana stated, “Serious escalation by Ukraine dependent on others…Zelenskyy trying to push everyone in 3rd WW or nuclear war. Russian response expected to be balanced & responsible… West must stop playing with fire, stop this war.”

Operation Spiderweb, which involved 117 drones striking four Russian airbases, including one in Siberia over 4,000 km from Ukraine, has been lauded as a tactical success by Kyiv. However, Flynn, Malinen, and Asthana collectively paint a sobering picture of the operation’s broader ramifications. Flynn’s warning about the vulnerability of US and NATO airbases to similar attacks underscores the need for new defence strategies, particularly against low-cost drone swarms. Malinen’s focus on NATO’s unpreparedness amplifies this concern, suggesting that the alliance must urgently bolster its anti-drone capabilities to avoid being caught off-guard in a potential escalation.

Asthana’s call for de-escalation highlights the precarious geopolitical tightrope, with Ukraine’s actions risking a Russian retaliation that could draw in NATO, either through miscalculation or intent.

The image shared by Flynn, showing US B-52 bombers neatly lined up at an airbase, serves as a stark visual reminder of the West’s own exposure. As Malinen notes, the “sheer number of drones” that can be deployed in such attacks poses a challenge that current defences may not be able to counter effectively.

Meanwhile, Asthana’s prediction of a “balanced” Russian response offers a glimmer of hope that Moscow may avoid drastic escalation, but the risk of missteps remains high.

Flynn’s assertion that “there are still solutions to achieving peace” is a reminder that de-escalation remains possible, but as he notes, “time, as it often does, becomes an enemy instead of a useful friend.” With NATO’s vulnerabilities exposed and the specter of a wider conflict looming, the stakes have never been higher.

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