Inside Ukraine's Wild Drone Strike on Russia Ft. Sandeep Unnithan
In this episode of In Our Defence, veteran defence journalist Sandeep Unnithan joins host Dev Goswami to break down Ukraine's daring drone strike deep inside Russian territory — an operation that has stunned the world.
Using covertly disguised container trucks and remotely launched drones, Ukraine struck key Russian airbases housing Tu-95 bombers and A-50 AWACS, marking a significant escalation in the four-year-old war.
Produced by Prateek Lidhoo
Sound mix by Aman Pal
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
42 minutes ago
- India.com
Ukraine Destroys Russia's S-400 In Drone Strike – If Putin's Shield Can Fall, Should India Still Trust It?
New Delhi: A drone flew low over Crimea and found its mark. Seconds later, flames leapt from the Russian base. Ukraine had done the unthinkable – it struck deep into Russia's most prized air defense system, the S-400. This was no ordinary hit. Ukrainian forces targeted the 91N6E 'Big Bird' radar, the eye of the S-400. Two of them were destroyed in one swoop. Ukraine's military intelligence confirmed the strike. The attack was carried out by GUR's Ghost unit – a name that now echoes louder than ever. The strike happened in Crimea, a region Moscow calls its own since 2014. Ukraine never accepted that. And now, it is making sure Russia feels it every day. Russia calls the S-400 one of the best air defense systems in the world. It sells it proudly to global allies, including India. But when drones worth a fraction of a missile can breach its radar net, questions follow. Sharp ones. From both friends and foes. The Big Bird radar is not just a part of the S-400. It is the spine. It scans threats 600 kilometers away, be it ballistic missiles or stealth fighters. It works with the S-band frequency and uses phased array tech to track incoming dangers. Without it, the S-400 can still fire. But it may be firing blind. That is what makes this strike serious. Ukraine did not only damage a piece of hardware. It cracked open a system once believed to be nearly untouchable. A system India has already started inducting. A system Russia still claims is unmatched. But nothing bleeds confidence like a smoking wreck. The S-400 may survive this war. But its reputation? That is taking a direct hit. India, watching closely, may now have a few questions of its own.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
43 minutes ago
- First Post
West Asia News Live: Saudi foreign minister receives written message from Russian counterpart
June 30, 2025, 06:30:19 (IST) Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Saudi foreign minister receives written message from Russian counterpart Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister has received a written message from his Russian counterpart, which was delivered by the Russian Ambassador to the Kingdom, as per a report in Asharq Al-Awsat. The communication reportedly focused on strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries and coordinating on various issues of mutual concern. This diplomatic exchange highlights the ongoing high-level engagement between Riyadh and Moscow, who are key partners in the OPEC+ alliance.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Ukraine sees ‘most massive' Russian airstrike of 537 weapons, F-16 pilot killed; Zelensky seeks US support
Russia launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine overnight, involving hundreds of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, a Ukrainian official said Sunday. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that an F-16 fighter pilot died while trying to repel the attack. The jet was reportedly flown away from a populated area before crashing, leaving the pilot no time to eject. Firefighters work at the site of an apartment building damaged during Russian drone and missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the town of Smila, Cherkasy region, Ukraine June 29, 2025. (via REUTERS) The strike damaged homes and infrastructure across the country, injuring at least 12 people, according to local officials cited by Bloomberg. In Kyiv, families took shelter in metro stations as machine-gun fire and explosions were heard across the capital. Similar attacks were also reported in Lviv, a region that typically sees fewer strikes. President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed his call for greater military support from Washington and Western allies, urging immediate reinforcement of Ukraine's air defences in the face of intensifying Russian attacks. According to a Bloomberg report, Ukraine has now lost three US-made F-16 jets since their deployment last year, though the total size of the fleet remains undisclosed. The latest assault comes shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is open to a new round of peace talks in Istanbul. Previous negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian officials in the Turkish city were brief and failed to yield any progress. Also Read | Why has Russia amassed 110,000 troops in Pokrovsk? Here's what we know about 'hottest spot' along Ukraine's front lines Russia fired a total of 537 aerial weapons at Ukraine Russia launched a total of 537 aerial weapons on Ukraine in what officials described as the 'most massive airstrike' since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine's air force said. The assault included 477 drones and decoys, along with 60 missiles. Of these, 249 aerial threats were shot down, while 226 were either jammed electronically or considered non-explosive decoys, according to the Associated Press. Ukrainian forces reported destroying 211 drones and 38 missiles. The attack targeted multiple regions, including areas in western Ukraine far from the front lines. Lviv's Drohobych city saw a large fire at an industrial site and partial power outages due to drone strikes. Air defences in Poland and allied countries were activated to secure Polish airspace amid the cross-border threat. At least 10 people were killed in the assault. Three fatalities each were reported in the Kherson, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions due to drone strikes. One person died in an airstrike on Kostyantynivka, while another was killed during shelling in Kherson. In Zaporizhzhia, a 70-year-old woman was found dead under the rubble of a nine-story building hit by Russian shelling. Russian troops advance in Donetsk Russia's defence ministry said three Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight. In a separate incident, two people were injured in a Ukrainian drone strike on the western Russian city of Bryansk, according to regional governor Alexander Bogomaz. He added that seven additional drones were downed over the region. Meanwhile, Russia claimed it has captured the village of Novoukrainka in the partially occupied Donetsk region, where its forces continue slow, incremental advances along parts of the 1,000-kilometre front line. These gains, however, have come at a significant cost in terms of personnel and equipment. In a related development, Russia's foreign intelligence chief, Sergei Naryshkin, said he recently spoke by phone with CIA Director John Ratcliffe. 'I had a phone call with my American counterpart and we reserved for each other the possibility to call at any time and discuss issues of interest to us,' Naryshkin told state media. (With inputs from Associated Press and Bloomberg)
