Trump envoy warns Ukrainian strikes on Russian bombers push conflict toward dangerous escalation

Jun 4, 2025 - 12:02

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US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg warned that Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian strategic aviation airfields have increased escalation risks.

The United States works to prevent such scenarios, Kellogg told Fox News.

The statement comes after a successful Ukrainian Spiderweb operation on 1 June that targeted four Russian military airbases deep inside Russian territory. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) used 117 AI-powered FPV drones, smuggled into Russia hidden in trucks. The attack reportedly destroyed and damaged over 40 strategic aircraft—including Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers and A-50 radar planes—used in attacks on Ukrainian cities. The operation inflicted an estimated $7 billion in damage, hitting about 34% of Russia’s strategic missile carriers at their bases.

Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web targeted Russia’s nuclear triad components. However, the US special envoy warned about the consequences of such attack, saying,“When you attack an opponent’s part of the national survival system – which is their triad, their nuclear triad – that means your risk level goes up because you don’t know what the other is going to do.”

The envoy called the operation bold but risky. “It’s a very emboldened act. And when you do that, it’s very clear that the risk levels will go up. That is what we try to avoid,” he stated.

Kellogg emphasized the psychological impact over material damage. The strikes embarrassed Russia and showed Ukraine’s resolve. “Ukraine is not lying down on this, basically saying: we can play this game too,” he explained.

Kellogg said that this operation demonstrated for Russian leadership and military Ukraine’s capability to hit targets deep inside Russian territory.

Earlier, US Senator Richard Blumenthal compared the Ukrainian strikes to the operation that killed Osama bin Laden. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Operation Spider’s Web as proof of Ukraine’s tactical decision-making abilities.

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