Moscow is lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons and strengthening its infrastructure less than 300 km from Sweden’s border, EurActiv.com reports. 

Russia has significantly intensified the construction and modernization of nuclear facilities near Sweden, particularly in Kaliningrad, Belarus, and the Arctic, according to new satellite imagery.

“We are closely monitoring Russian capabilities in this area. It is about both Russian investments in nuclear weapons capability and the development of a new doctrine,” said Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson.

Key developments include:

• Kaliningrad base – new fencing, communications systems, and up to 100 tactical nuclear weapons
• Asipovichy, Belarus – reinforced storage facilities and improved transport logistics
• Kola Peninsula and Novaya Zemlya – new underground storage for sea-launched missiles

In November 2024, the Kremlin revised its nuclear doctrine to permit the use of nuclear weapons not only in response to a nuclear strike, but also in cases of any “critical threat,” including conventional attacks supported by NATO countries. Such strikes can now be interpreted as “joint aggression” against Russia or Belarus.

These changes, along with Russia’s withdrawal from key arms control treaties, are creating a dangerous precedent, with Moscow increasingly using nuclear rhetoric to intimidate the West.

“Russia has lowered the threshold for threatening to use nuclear weapons, and we have seen since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that it has done so more than 200 times at different political levels,” Jonson emphasized.

Earlier, expert Oleksii Izhak said that Russia was creating a risk for its nuclear force with its own hands. By deploying elements of its nuclear triad in the war against Ukraine, it is turning its strategic delivery systems into legitimate military targets, including strategic aviation. 

Swedish company Saab and German defense startup Helsing have conducted combat trials of a Gripen E fighter jet piloted by artificial intelligence, pitted against a real-life human pilot, The War Zone reports. 

The first of these test flights took place on 28 May. By the third combat sortie on 3 June, the AI agent, dubbed Centaur, was ready to engage in a beyond-visual-range (BVR) air battle against a crewed Gripen D fighter.

During the process, the AI agent rapidly accumulated experience and improved its decision-making skills in BVR combat, a battlefield Saab describes as “like playing chess in a supersonic with advanced missiles.”

Saab has confirmed that the Centaur AI system could potentially be expanded to close-range dogfights within visual range (WVR) as well. However, the initial focus remains on BVR engagements, which the company describes as the most critical aspect of air combat, a point reinforced by the ongoing air war in Ukraine.

In a series of dynamic BVR scenarios, the Gripen E’s sensors received target data, and the Centaur AI autonomously executed complex maneuvers on behalf of the test pilot. The culmination of these scenarios saw the AI agent providing the pilot with firing cues for simulated air-to-air weapon launches.

Meanwhile, Marcus Wandt, Saab’s Chief Innovation Officer and a test pilot himself, remarked that the test flights “so far point to the fact that ‘it is not a given’ that a pilot will be able to win in aerial combat against an AI-supported opponent.”

“This is an important achievement for Saab, demonstrating our qualitative edge in sophisticated technologies by making AI deliver in the air,” said Peter Nilsson, head of Advanced Programs within Saab’s Aeronautics business area.

Insights gained from this program will feed into Sweden’s future fighter program, which aims to select one or more next-generation air combat platforms by 2031.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Russian truck drivers who unknowingly transported Ukrainian drones into Russia had no knowledge of their cargo’s true purpose during the large-scale attack on Russian military airfields.

Operation Spiderweb, carried out by Ukraine’s Security Service, was a large-scale surprise Ukrainian drone strike on five Russian airbases that involved 117 drones covertly smuggled into Russia and launched from hidden compartments in trucks. The attack destroyed or damaged over 40 strategic bombers, amounting to about $7 bn in losses and about one-third of Russia’s long-range strike fleet used for attacks on Ukraine.

“They didn’t know anything. They just did their job,” Zelenskyy told ABC News correspondent Martha Raddatz in an exclusive interview airing on This Week with George Stephanopoulos.

The drivers transported what they believed were mobile cottages and other containers, unaware that the structures contained drones equipped to assault Russian airfields and damage military hardware worth billions of dollars.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukrainian Security Service used exclusively domestic weapons for the operation.

“I wanted very much to use only what we produce and to have the separation [be] very clear,” the Ukrainian president said.

Operation web details

On 1 June, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) conducted Operation Web, targeting Russian military airfields at Olenya, Belaya, Dyagilevo, and Ivanovo with drone strikes. The operation targeted Russian aircraft including A-50 early warning planes, Tu-95 strategic bombers, and Tu-22M3 supersonic bombers.

The operation reportedly damaged 41 Russian aircraft, representing 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers stationed at their home bases.

The operation required over 18 months of preparation, according to SBU sources. Ukrainian intelligence first smuggled FPV drones into Russia, followed by mobile wooden houses. The drones were later concealed under the roofs of these structures, which were opened remotely at the start of the operation to launch the aircraft.

Aftermath and investigation

All individuals who assisted in organizing the operation have been reportedly evacuated from Russia. However, Russian authorities have issued a warrant for 37-year-old Ukrainian-born Artem Timofeev, allegedly the owner of the trucks used to transport the drones.

The Russian Telegram channel Baza, linked to Russian law enforcement, reported interrogations of truck drivers who launched drones during the SBU’s large-scale attack on Russian airfields. The drivers reportedly believed they were transporting prefabricated houses and identified the truck owner as a man named Artem.

Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian secret services extracted all operation participants from Russian territory following the successful mission.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised Russian ruler Vladimir Putin to “stop whining” over Operation Spiderweb. Instead, Ukrainian diplomats have urged him to agree to a 30-day ceasefire and abandon unrealistic ultimatums.

On 4 June, in a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump, Putin vowed to retaliate for Ukraine’s attack on Russian airfields.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry says that international law grants the right to self-defense in the event of aggression. 

“It is also worth noting that the aircraft were vulnerable to strikes because they were fueled and armed for yet another attack on Ukrainian cities—to kill our children, civilians, and soldiers,” the ministry emphasizes.

The agency adds that there can be no equivalency between Ukrainian and Russian actions.

“Russia is the aggressor that launched an illegal and unprovoked invasion of our country. Ukraine is a nation defending itself against aggression. Therefore, by definition, Russian strikes are acts of aggression and terror, while Ukrainian strikes are acts of self-defense,” it says.

Ukrainian diplomats emphasize that Russia primarily targets civilians and aims to maximize civilian casualties.

Today, there is an interesting update from the Russian Federation. Here, Ukraine conducted a sophisticated military operation, checkmating Russian security services and dealing a deadly blow to Russian strategic aviation.

Trucks that brought doom

The groundbreaking Operation, codenamed Spiderweb, is a meticulously planned drone assault deep within Russian territory, marking one of the most complex special operations in modern military history.

The goal was clear: to neutralize the Russian strategic bomber fleet responsible for daily missile and bomb strikes on Ukrainian cities and key infrastructure.

Operational logistics showcased exceptional ingenuity. Ukrainian operatives covertly smuggled FPV drones into Russia. Storing them in warehouses, the drones were assembled and placed in specially designed mobile wooden cabins mounted on rented trucks.

These vehicles were then parked by regular drivers near each targeted airbase, which enabled the swift deployment of the drones when their roofs were remotely opened.

Notably, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally oversaw the execution, underscoring the operation’s strategic importance.

Zelenskyy emphasized the audacity of the operation by revealing that one of Ukraine’s operational headquarters was located adjacent to a local Russian FSB department, highlighting an embarrassing intelligence failure for Russia.

Interestingly, one of the alleged warehouses is right along the border with Kazakhstan, indicating that Ukrainians routed their drone assembly at least partially through third countries like Kazakhstan.

This further implies that Ukrainian intelligence services have established bases not only inside Russia but also surrounding it.

Black wings over Murmansk

Among the targeted airbases was Olenya, located near Murmansk, 2,000 kilometers away from Ukraine. This facility hosted strategic nuclear-capable bombers, including Tu-95MS and Tu-160 aircraft.

At least ten explosions were reported here, with drones accurately targeting fuel storage and strategic aircraft.

The site, home to numerous Tu-22M3 bombers and various fighter aircraft, suffered substantial damage, with satellite images confirming at least seven aircraft destroyed or severely damaged.

Dyagilevo airbase near Ryazan experienced seven documented explosions affecting its Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 aircraft. The Ivanovo Severny airbase was also targeted, with reports suggesting the destruction of an A-50 AWACS radar aircraft.

This is a critical blow to Russia’s surveillance capabilities, with half of the Russian AWACS fleet now being destroyed, as Ukrainians previously destroyed 2 of the six other aircraft.

A Russian airbase in the Amur region was also targeted, and even though the strike was reported as unsuccessful at first, satellite data showed later that a Tu-95 plane was destroyed.

The silence of the sensors

The magnitude and sophistication of Operation Spiderweb prompted vehement reactions from Russian military analysts, who described the strike as highly impactful and criticized attempts by Russian state channels to downplay the damage.

They condemned Russia’s inadequate air defenses, insufficient protective infrastructure, and counterintelligence failures that facilitated Ukraine’s devastating attack. As a rare exception to the usual immunity of criticism, prominent Russian military bloggers openly criticized Putin for the failures.

The saboteurs’ diversion

To ensure the safe extraction of its operatives and to divert Russian attention, Ukraine orchestrated multiple simultaneous sabotage operations.

Before the drone strikes, four railway bridges were blown up, two in Bryansk Oblast, one in Kursk Oblast, and another in Melitopol, creating widespread panic and diverting Russia’s security apparatus toward railway infrastructure.

With trains travelling over the tracks as the bridges exploded, this panic and chaos only spread further. Additionally, a strong explosion followed by secondary detonations rocked Severomorsk, the administrative base of Russia’s Northern Fleet, adding further confusion.

The billion-dollar burn

Overall, Operation Spiderweb inflicted immense and irreparable damage to Russian military aviation capabilities. Ukrainian officials stated that over 40 aircraft, representing approximately 34% of Russia’s strategic missile-carrying bombers, were hit, causing estimated losses exceeding $7 billion.

Widely available footage from eyewitnesses, drone recordings, and detailed satellite imagery affirms the official Ukrainian claims, visually confirming the destruction of at least 21 strategic aircraft, including the invaluable A-50 AWACS platform, while the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.

As Russia lost its ability to produce its strategic bombers, it also created panic within the country, successfully destroying the carefully nourished myth of Russian invincibility and devastatingly undermining the Russian nuclear shield.

In our daily frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

President Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, that lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes, Trump announced on his Truth Social platform.

According to the US president, they discussed Ukraine’s recent surprise operation targeting Russian aircraft “as well as various other attacks happening on both sides.”

“It was a good conversation, but not the conversation that will lead to immediate peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields,” Trump stated.

The New York Times previously reported that American officials expect Russia to deliver a “significant response” to Ukraine over these strikes.

While US intelligence has not yet determined specific targets for potential retaliation, they believe Moscow may conduct more massive drone strikes on civilian targets, hit energy infrastructure, or launch new waves of medium-range ballistic missiles.

The leaders also addressed Iran and what Trump described as a nuclear agreement he proposed to Tehran.

“I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe we were in agreement. President Putin suggested that he will participate in discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion,” the American president added.

The difference in aircraft capabilities between Russian and Ukrainian jets is like comparing a Makarov pistol to a sniper rifle. Even after the arrival of F-16s, the situation has unfortunately not changed drastically in Kyiv’s favor due to the small number of jets, says Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Colonel Yuriy Ihnat, Ukrainska Pravda reports.

Modern Russian aviation retains air superiority—its aircraft can “see farther,” its missiles “shoot farther,” and all of this operates in tandem with a powerful air defense system.

“When we didn’t yet have F-16s, the ratio of our group to theirs was 1:10 in terms of our MiGs. And technologically, it’s like comparing a Makarov pistol to a sniper rifle. Despite that, our pilots still put up a fight,” he emphasizes.

To shift the balance, Ihnat says, Ukraine needs at least 200 modern combat aircraft. These should be multirole fighters, with the F-16 playing a key role due to its capability to destroy air, ground, and naval targets.

“An F-16 is a multirole aircraft. It can engage aerial, ground, and maritime targets,” he explains.

Ukraine is already receiving Western equipment, but as Ihnat stresses, it’s not the newest.

“Still, it’s better than the Soviet-era weapons we had,” he concludes, emphasizing the importance of aircraft armament and radar systems.

Earlier, Kyiv revealed that Ukraine’s F-16 and Mirage 2000 jets will operate within a unified digital network alongside NATO air defense systems, enabling real-time exchange of critical information.

This will ensure maximum coordination of actions in the air and significantly boost the country’s defensive potential.

Ukraine F-16 pilots get NATO-level battlefield vision through Link-16 military Wi-Fi protocol

The coordination center of the Security Service of Ukraine’s (SBU) operation Web on Russian territory was located directly next to one of the FSB’s regional offices, says President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, UkrInform reports. 

On 1 June, the SBU carried out a unique special operation called Web (Pavutynnia), launching smart FPV-drone strikes on four Russian airbases. As a result of the operation, over 40 aircraft were struck, including A-50 radar planes, Tu-95, and Tu-22M3 bombers. The estimated value of the destroyed bombers exceeds $7 billion. Russia used them to target Ukrainian civilians. 

In his daily address to the nation, Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to the SBU, especially to the agency’s chief, General Vasyl Maliuk, and to everyone involved in the operation.

According to him, the operation was in preparation for more than a year and a half.

“The planning, coordination, and every detail were perfectly prepared. The most interesting part, something we can already say publicly, is that the office for our operation on Russian territory was located directly next to a regional FSB office,” Zelenskyy said.

He added that 117 drones were used in the operation, each operated by a separate team.

“As a result, 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers at their airbases were hit. Our people were active across different Russian regions in three time zones,” the Ukrainian leader reported.

All personnel involved in preparing Operation Web were successfully withdrawn from Russian territory in time.

“Of course, we can’t reveal everything yet, but these are Ukrainian actions that will undoubtedly be recorded in history books. Ukraine is defending itself, and rightfully so. We are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war. Russia started this war. Russia must end it,” the president stated.

Meanwhile, many politicians and journalists have reacted to the operation, saying that Ukraine surprisingly has the cards. They hint at US President Donald Trump’s statement that Kyiv does not have the conditions to dictate its terms in peace negotiations. 

For instance, American billionaire Elon Musk, who is known for his ambiguous stance on the war in Ukraine, has also commented on the strikes. 

He responded in the comments under a post by another user who had praised the Ukrainian operation. Musk highlighted the operation’s technological aspect, saying that “Drones are the future of warfare. Manned aircraft are not.”

Never before have drones with artificial intelligence executed such precise strikes on Russian military airbases as in the operation Web by Ukrainian forces, writes Clash Report. 

On 1 June, Ukrainian drones featuring artificial intelligence attacked several Russian military airfields across different regions. Over 40 aircraft were destroyed or damaged, including strategic bombers used by Russia to kill civilians. Unlike previous attacks, the drones did not fly thousands of kilometers from Ukraine. Instead, they were transported in the Russian territory by trucks, then launched into the air for sudden strikes.

“Last year, Ukrainian military intelligence scanned Russian bomber aircraft and trained AI to recognize them and execute automatic dive attack algorithms. Today, we’ve seen the results,” reports Clash Report.

Two types of drones were used — vertical takeoff quadcopters and “wing-type” drones launched from mini catapults.

At the same time, Ukrainian journalist Yurii Butusov emphasizes the uniqueness of the Security Service operation, calling it a historic military textbook case, noting that 41 aircraft were hit across four airbases.

“Some drones attacked using auto-targeting. Results will be confirmed by satellite imagery,” Butusov adds.

According to him, the Security Service smuggled 150 small strike drones and 300 munitions into Russia, 116 of which took off. Control was conducted via Russian telecom networks using auto-targeting.

“The drones attacked from close range during daylight deep in enemy rear areas… the Russians did not expect small quadcopters to strike in daylight,” the journalist says.

The most successful attack was on Olenya airfield, where drones hit fuel tanks, causing a large number of aircraft to burn completely. All Ukrainian agents have returned safely home without losses. 

Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, has called Ukraine’s unique special operation targeting Russian airfields “a modern version of the Budapest Memorandum.”

“Meticulous work. Impressive results,” Ruslan Stefanchuk writes on social media, assessing the scale of the Web operation on Russian territory.

Thanks to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Maliuk, and everyone involved in this operation for ensuring the non-nuclear status of the aggressor state, Stefanchuk adds.

He emphasizes that for those fighting for their land, no goals are too distant.

On 1 June, the Security Service of Ukraine and Defense Intelligence conducted the unprecedented “Web” operation, during which FPV-drones were brought to Russia in trucks and released from them to target four Russian airfields: Byelaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo.

As a result, over 40 Russian aircraft were damaged, including the A-50 reconnaissance plane and strategic bombers Tu-95 and Tu-22M3.

Preparation for the operation took over one and a half years. President Zelenskyy personally oversaw the operation, while Head of the SBU Vasyl Maliuk and his team managed its execution.