Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

Despite initial reports that President Trump was briefed in advance by Ukraine ahead of a massive drone strike on Russian airfields, officials have now confirmed that no such notification was given to the US prior to the operation.

Some shit you should know before you read: Earlier this morning, Ukraine launched a large-scale drone strike deep inside Russian territory, targeting four military airfields and inflicting significant damage on Russia’s strategic aviation assets. According to Ukrainian security sources cited by RBC-Ukraine, the operation—codenamed “Spiderweb”—was executed by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and involved smuggling drones into Russia concealed within “mobile wooden cabins” mounted on trucks. At the designated time, the cabins’ roofs were remotely opened, allowing the drones to launch and strike key airbases in the Irkutsk, Murmansk, Ryazan, and Ivanovo regions. The Kyiv Independent and the Associated Press reported that at least 41 aircraft were hit, including nuclear-capable Tu-95 “Bear” bombers, Tu-22M3 “Backfire” strike bombers, and A-50 airborne early-warning command jets. These bombers have been repeatedly used in long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities, making the strike one of the most strategically consequential operations of the war to date.

What’s going on now: Despite initial reports from Axios and CBS News that President Trump had been briefed in advance of the Ukrainian drone strikes, those claims were later corrected. Axios issued an update clarifying that Ukraine did not notify the Trump administration ahead of the operation.

Even with all this, US officials are reportedly warning allies that Russia may soon launch a “disproportionate retaliation” after Ukraine’s drone strike.

Zelenskyy has since praised the strike as a historic moment in Ukraine’s defense strategy. In a public statement on X, he called the mission “absolutely brilliant” and confirmed it was Ukraine’s “most long-range operation” to date. He noted that the strike would be remembered in history books and reiterated that Ukraine is acting in self-defense, stating, “We are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war. Russia started this war—Russia must end it.”