Trump envoy states Ukraine’s attacks on Russian airfields possibly to cause escalation

(MENAFN) Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian airbases hosting strategic bombers have significantly heightened the risk of escalation in the ongoing conflict, according to Keith Kellogg, special envoy for former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Over the weekend, Ukraine reportedly launched drone strikes on airfields across five Russian regions. While Moscow stated that the attacks were repelled without casualties, some aircraft were set on fire. Ukrainian sources claimed the targets included bases housing Tu-95 and Tu-22M nuclear-capable bombers and an A-50 early warning aircraft.

Speaking to Fox News on Tuesday, Kellogg expressed alarm over the implications of these strikes. “The risk levels are going way up,” he said, warning that targeting elements of a country’s nuclear triad increases the potential for severe retaliation. He emphasized that such attacks are psychologically provocative, even if the physical damage is limited.

Unconfirmed reports also suggested Ukraine may have struck the headquarters of Russia’s Northern Fleet in Severomorsk. If accurate, this would mean attacks were launched against two of the three pillars of Russia’s nuclear forces—air and sea—raising concerns of a serious miscalculation.

Kellogg noted that Ukraine may be trying to demonstrate its capacity to escalate the conflict, but warned that such moves are dangerously provocative.

According to The New York Times, Ukraine did not inform the U.S. of these operations in advance, and there is no joint planning between the two nations for strikes within Russian territory. The report also mentioned that U.S. officials expect Russia to retaliate in some significant way.

Following the incidents, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council and former president, warned that a response from Moscow would be “inevitable.”

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