Former French spy claims US intel behind Ukrainian attack on Russian planes

(MENAFN) A former French military officer has asserted that Ukraine’s recent drone strikes on Russian airbases deep inside Russian territory were only possible due to direct intelligence and satellite support from the United States. On Sunday, Ukrainian drones launched coordinated attacks on multiple Russian airfields, spanning from Murmansk in the Arctic to Irkutsk in Siberia, in an operation dubbed ‘Operation Spider’s Web.’ Ukraine claimed the strikes damaged or destroyed around 40 Russian military aircraft, including long-range bombers like the Tu-95 and Tu-22. Moscow, however, disputed these claims, stating most drones were intercepted.

The operation reportedly involved commercial trucks outfitted with explosive drones smuggled into Russia and drones controlled remotely from thousands of kilometers away. Guillaume Ancel, a former French army lieutenant colonel and author, told Le Monde that such a complex operation could only be executed with the help of an advanced satellite communications system, which Ukraine lacks. He suggested that the United States likely provided critical intelligence and satellite assistance enabling Ukraine to carry out the attacks.

While some Western observers praised the strike’s boldness, international risk consultant Stephane Audrand cautioned that the attacks would have little impact on the overall tactical situation, as the targeted weapons were not actively used on the battlefield.

Throughout the conflict, Russia has framed the war as a proxy struggle involving Western powers supplying arms to Ukraine. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently acknowledged this dynamic, describing the conflict as a proxy war between nuclear powers. Russian officials have condemned the drone attacks, accusing Ukraine of undermining peace efforts and attempting to sabotage ongoing diplomatic negotiations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov characterized the strikes as deliberate attempts to derail the peace process.

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