Marc Santora

Sure. So, you know, you get used to a lot of reports of explosions every day here, whether it's here in Ukraine or something going on in Russia. But on Sunday, around 1 o'clock, we started to get these really strange reports of... explosions at airfields 3,000 miles from Ukraine. First, we saw reports of explosions at an airfield all the way in Siberia.

Sure. So, you know, you get used to a lot of reports of explosions every day here, whether it's here in Ukraine or something going on in Russia. But on Sunday, around 1 o'clock, we started to get these really strange reports of... explosions at airfields 3,000 miles from Ukraine. First, we saw reports of explosions at an airfield all the way in Siberia.

And as they started to come in, we started to get videos of how these attacks were being conducted. And it was really weird looking, right? Because, you know, we're used to long-range Ukrainian drone strikes going after, you know, Russian targets inside of Russia.

And as they started to come in, we started to get videos of how these attacks were being conducted. And it was really weird looking, right? Because, you know, we're used to long-range Ukrainian drone strikes going after, you know, Russian targets inside of Russia.

But here, we saw these trucks parked on the side of the road and then these small little quadcopters rising up from the trailer and taking off. And then, you know, cut images to burning planes and airfields.

But here, we saw these trucks parked on the side of the road and then these small little quadcopters rising up from the trailer and taking off. And then, you know, cut images to burning planes and airfields.

And so it quickly became apparent that in terms of how this strike was executed, in terms of its ambition, in terms of what it might mean for the war going forward, that this was something different. This was a signal event in this war.

And so it quickly became apparent that in terms of how this strike was executed, in terms of its ambition, in terms of what it might mean for the war going forward, that this was something different. This was a signal event in this war.

Well, this is Ukraine's answer to a problem that has bedeviled them throughout this war, which is how do you stop massive long-range Russian missile bombardments? And these are launched from planes flying deep in Russian territory. They're missiles fired from ships and submarines out at sea, from land-based systems far inside of Russia. So basically out of the reach of the Ukrainians.

Well, this is Ukraine's answer to a problem that has bedeviled them throughout this war, which is how do you stop massive long-range Russian missile bombardments? And these are launched from planes flying deep in Russian territory. They're missiles fired from ships and submarines out at sea, from land-based systems far inside of Russia. So basically out of the reach of the Ukrainians.

And these bombardments... have become so routine in Ukraine that people can actually time when they want to go to the shelter by what's happening. For instance, a Russian bomber will take off from an air base deep in Russia, and you'll get a warning saying that the bombers are at the starting line. A warning like on your phone? Yeah, a warning on your phone.

And these bombardments... have become so routine in Ukraine that people can actually time when they want to go to the shelter by what's happening. For instance, a Russian bomber will take off from an air base deep in Russia, and you'll get a warning saying that the bombers are at the starting line. A warning like on your phone? Yeah, a warning on your phone.

It'll say Russian bombers TU-95 at the starting line. So that means you have about two hours until they get to the launch point. You'll get an alarm. Missiles have been launched. Then you know if you're in Kyiv, say, and depending on where the launch is from, you know you have two, three hours for a cruise missile.

It'll say Russian bombers TU-95 at the starting line. So that means you have about two hours until they get to the launch point. You'll get an alarm. Missiles have been launched. Then you know if you're in Kyiv, say, and depending on where the launch is from, you know you have two, three hours for a cruise missile.

Yeah. So these bombers, everyone in Ukraine is intimately familiar with now, the TU-95. And it's kind of gone in waves in the war. The more U.S. support they got with Patriot missiles and other things, the more secure people in some cities felt. As American support has faded, some of that feeling of security has faded with it because there's only a few really advanced weapon systems available.

Yeah. So these bombers, everyone in Ukraine is intimately familiar with now, the TU-95. And it's kind of gone in waves in the war. The more U.S. support they got with Patriot missiles and other things, the more secure people in some cities felt. As American support has faded, some of that feeling of security has faded with it because there's only a few really advanced weapon systems available.

that can go after Russia's most advanced missiles. And Ukraine never had enough of them, but as America pulls back, they have even less.

that can go after Russia's most advanced missiles. And Ukraine never had enough of them, but as America pulls back, they have even less.

100%. So the Ukrainians do what they've done throughout this war. They have to adapt. They have to innovate. They have to find a low-cost solution. And so what they do is they turn to drones. Drones are the things that Ukraine has turned to time and again in this war to survive against an enemy that outnumbers them, that has a vastly bigger arsenal.

100%. So the Ukrainians do what they've done throughout this war. They have to adapt. They have to innovate. They have to find a low-cost solution. And so what they do is they turn to drones. Drones are the things that Ukraine has turned to time and again in this war to survive against an enemy that outnumbers them, that has a vastly bigger arsenal.