Marc Santora

I mean, honestly, it's kind of hard to imagine how Ukraine would have survived without drones. And, you know, going to the front line over the last three years, you've just seen how they've transformed the battlefield.

I mean, honestly, it's kind of hard to imagine how Ukraine would have survived without drones. And, you know, going to the front line over the last three years, you've just seen how they've transformed the battlefield.

I mean, every time now if we go out to a front line position with the Ukrainians, you have someone riding on the front seat with a shotgun because really that's one of the only defenses against some of these kinds of smaller drones. So they're able to use these drones to hold defensive positions with fewer people than they might otherwise need.

I mean, every time now if we go out to a front line position with the Ukrainians, you have someone riding on the front seat with a shotgun because really that's one of the only defenses against some of these kinds of smaller drones. So they're able to use these drones to hold defensive positions with fewer people than they might otherwise need.

So, first of all, you know, all these guys on the front line, they're watching every day as Russian missiles and bombs are hitting the towns and cities where their families live. So they, just like everyone else, are, you know, desperate to find a way to do something about this.

So, first of all, you know, all these guys on the front line, they're watching every day as Russian missiles and bombs are hitting the towns and cities where their families live. So they, just like everyone else, are, you know, desperate to find a way to do something about this.

And so Ukraine begins another kind of drone program, which is to make long range drones, not these small sort of little quadcopters, but drones that can fly hundreds of miles and carry powerful payloads of explosives. So Ukraine for the first time strikes a Russian airfield all the way back in December 2022. But Russia obviously starts to adapt to this new capability Ukraine has.

And so Ukraine begins another kind of drone program, which is to make long range drones, not these small sort of little quadcopters, but drones that can fly hundreds of miles and carry powerful payloads of explosives. So Ukraine for the first time strikes a Russian airfield all the way back in December 2022. But Russia obviously starts to adapt to this new capability Ukraine has.

They've got robust air defenses, but also they start taking other measures. They build fortifications around fuel depots at airports. They build decoys the size of fighter jets to confuse Ukraine. the Ukrainians as to what's where. They put tires on the wings of planes in the hopes that if there is an explosion at the airport, the shrapnel doesn't do damage.

They've got robust air defenses, but also they start taking other measures. They build fortifications around fuel depots at airports. They build decoys the size of fighter jets to confuse Ukraine. the Ukrainians as to what's where. They put tires on the wings of planes in the hopes that if there is an explosion at the airport, the shrapnel doesn't do damage.

They do a number of steps that, you know, taken together, make it exceedingly hard for the Ukrainians to strike a blow that will do more than glancing damage.

They do a number of steps that, you know, taken together, make it exceedingly hard for the Ukrainians to strike a blow that will do more than glancing damage.

Right. So about a year and a half ago, the Ukrainians decide they need to try something different. And they come up with this very secret plan, so secret the Ukrainians say they didn't even tell the Americans.

Right. So about a year and a half ago, the Ukrainians decide they need to try something different. And they come up with this very secret plan, so secret the Ukrainians say they didn't even tell the Americans.

They try and find a way to bring these small drones, the ones that have been so effective on the front, into Russia, close to these air bases where these bombers are based, in the hopes that they can use them to catch the Russians by surprise. and maybe at least slow the Russian bombardments down and give them more of a fighting chance. And they call this Operation Spider's Web.

They try and find a way to bring these small drones, the ones that have been so effective on the front, into Russia, close to these air bases where these bombers are based, in the hopes that they can use them to catch the Russians by surprise. and maybe at least slow the Russian bombardments down and give them more of a fighting chance. And they call this Operation Spider's Web.

So there's a lot we don't know, and we're still working to piece it together. But what we do know is that this operation was so high profile that President Zelensky himself oversaw it. We know it was so secretive they didn't even tell the Americans. And we know the goal was to secret these drones into Russia and close to these air bases so they can hit these bombers.

So there's a lot we don't know, and we're still working to piece it together. But what we do know is that this operation was so high profile that President Zelensky himself oversaw it. We know it was so secretive they didn't even tell the Americans. And we know the goal was to secret these drones into Russia and close to these air bases so they can hit these bombers.

So Ukraine has to do two things for this operation to be pulled off successfully. They have to hide the drones, and they have to train the drones. And let's start with the hiding. They start with thinking to themselves, what is the most common, ubiquitous thing you see on the roads?

So Ukraine has to do two things for this operation to be pulled off successfully. They have to hide the drones, and they have to train the drones. And let's start with the hiding. They start with thinking to themselves, what is the most common, ubiquitous thing you see on the roads?