Ukraine's Operation Resembles Attack on Pearl Harbor, TWP

Ukraine's assault on Russian military airports played a role in military history akin to Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, completely rewriting the rules of war. As noted by The Washington Post columnist Max Boot, the attack on Pearl Harbor marked the rise of aircraft carriers as a dominant force in naval warfare. In turn, Ukraine's drone strike on Russian fighters exposed the vulnerability of air bases worldwide.

A group of Ukrainian drones, likely built at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars, could have inflicted $2 billion worth of damage on Russia's most sophisticated aircraft. This discovery reveals a critical vulnerability that 'should keep every general in the world awake at night,' Boot emphasized.

'If Ukrainians could maintain drones so close to the air bases of a militarized state, what would prevent the Chinese from doing the same to U.S. bases, or the Pakistanis to Indian bases, or North Koreans to South Korean bases?' As a result, military personnel who believed their air bases were secure with electrified fences and guard towers will now have to factor in the aerial threat posed by cheap, ubiquitous drones.

This will require huge investments in counter-drone systems. The money spent on conventional guided weapons systems is becoming increasingly wasted, reminiscent of the funds allocated to cavalry in the 1930s, Boot notes.

While the 'Sardinian' operation will not be a decisive blow against Russian forces, much like the attack on Pearl Harbor was not a decisive blow against American forces, the journalist points out. However, the assault that occurred on Sunday once again demonstrates that Ukrainians are more resilient and adaptable fighters than anyone anticipated prior to the onset of Russia's large-scale invasion.

'Of course, the Russians are building their own drones with the help of Iran, but in the drone race, they are constantly one or two steps behind the Ukrainians, as Sunday’s operation has shown again,' he stressed.

Moreover, Ukraine's assault this Sunday could also disrupt nuclear stability since the very bombers firing conventional cruise missiles at Ukraine are also designed to launch nuclear weapons, Boot added.

It is noted that Ukrainian drones struck several Russian military airports on Sunday, with sources from Ukraine’s Security Service reporting to the BBC. According to them, over 40 Russian aircraft, including A-50, Tu-95, and Tu-22 M3 have been hit in the largest such assault since the war began.

Russian authorities have yet to comment on the damage caused but have confirmed drone strikes on two regions housing military airports. Some reports indicate that the drones were launched from within Russian territory, taking off from trucks. The Ukrainian Security Service source reports that the following airbases were targeted: 'Olenya' (Murmansk region), 'Belaya' (Irkutsk region), 'Ivanovo' (Ivanovo region), and 'Dyakovo' (Ryazan region).

'The source from which the drones were launched is already blocked. It was a truck,' wrote Irkutsk governor Igor Kobzev on social media, adding that the drone strike was the first in Siberia. According to Ukrainian media, the total damage is estimated at over $2 billion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky characterized the Security Service's operation to destroy over 40 strategic aviation aircraft in Russian military airports as a brilliant achievement that will go down in history. Zelensky stated that he heard a report from the head of Ukraine’s Security Service, Vasyl Maliuk, regarding this operation. He called it an independent Ukrainian result that had been in preparation for more than 1.5 years.

'A completely brilliant result. An independent outcome for Ukraine. From planning to effective implementation, it took one year, six months, and nine days. Our longest-planned operation. Our people who prepared for the operation were withdrawn from Russian territory in time,' he said. In his evening address, Zelensky mentioned that a total of 117 drones were used in this operation, and the 'office' for operations on Russian territory is located in one of the regions next to the headquarters of the Russian Federal Security Service.