In the wake of Ukraine's daring drone offensive, dubbed Operation Spider’s Web, the Kremlin has declared it will determine the timing and method of its retaliation. This comes shortly after a lengthy phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, during which Putin emphasized the necessity of responding firmly to Ukraine’s recent attacks on Russian military airbases. Moscow’s official stance, as reported by the Kremlin and AFP, stresses that military actions will be executed when deemed appropriate by Russia’s armed forces.

Operation Spider’s Web, orchestrated by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), was a large-scale, covert drone assault launched on June 1 targeting several key Russian airbases. The operation reportedly destroyed over 40 Russian bomber aircraft, which Ukraine claims are regularly involved in air raids against Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that the mission took more than 18 months of planning and execution, highlighting its strategic significance in the ongoing war.

Shortly after the phone call between Putin and Trump, Russia launched multiple drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, resulting in civilian casualties. Reports confirm that Russian drones targeted residential areas, including the city of Pyluky, killing at least five people, among them a young child. Zelenskyy further noted that over 100 drones and a ballistic missile struck various Ukrainian regions overnight, intensifying the conflict. The latest developments underscore the escalating tensions and the deepening cycle of retaliation between the two nations.