Marc Santora

And then we start to get from our intelligence sources direct video views from these drones on their attack mission. There's one really compelling one where you see from the drone's vantage point, the same thing the drone pilot would see, it flying over an airfield as two, three bombers are on fire and it dives in to hit another one.

And then we start to get from our intelligence sources direct video views from these drones on their attack mission. There's one really compelling one where you see from the drone's vantage point, the same thing the drone pilot would see, it flying over an airfield as two, three bombers are on fire and it dives in to hit another one.

And so you start to see these just wildly dramatic images coming out and the attack is underway.

And so you start to see these just wildly dramatic images coming out and the attack is underway.

Yeah, you know, it's really one of the kind of incredible things about this war that I don't even think we've fully understood, which is just how much of it has unfolded before the cameras. But, you know, videos, they can lie or not tell the whole story.

Yeah, you know, it's really one of the kind of incredible things about this war that I don't even think we've fully understood, which is just how much of it has unfolded before the cameras. But, you know, videos, they can lie or not tell the whole story.

So our colleagues on visual investigations basically set to work right away to try and piece together both the videos coming from Ukrainian intelligence, but also Russian civilians, as well as satellite images, which are still coming out to try and understand, OK, what They were able to orchestrate this attack, but what effect did it have?

So our colleagues on visual investigations basically set to work right away to try and piece together both the videos coming from Ukrainian intelligence, but also Russian civilians, as well as satellite images, which are still coming out to try and understand, OK, what They were able to orchestrate this attack, but what effect did it have?

And where we are now, I think, 48 hours after the attack unfolded is we can say with confidence that more than a dozen Russian bombers and planes suffered damage, quite extensive in many cases. The Ukrainians say that the number could be as high as 41, and that amounts to, if the Ukrainian account is correct, $7 billion in damage done by drones that cost a few thousand dollars apiece.

And where we are now, I think, 48 hours after the attack unfolded is we can say with confidence that more than a dozen Russian bombers and planes suffered damage, quite extensive in many cases. The Ukrainians say that the number could be as high as 41, and that amounts to, if the Ukrainian account is correct, $7 billion in damage done by drones that cost a few thousand dollars apiece.

Even if it's half as much as Ukraine said, and it's closer to the Western estimates, that's still $3.5 billion in damage. And you have to recall that this is Russia's strategic nuclear bombing fleet. So we've been talking about how Russia's been using these to launch conventional weapons at Ukraine, cruise missiles, this is also a key element of its strategic nuclear deterrence.

Even if it's half as much as Ukraine said, and it's closer to the Western estimates, that's still $3.5 billion in damage. And you have to recall that this is Russia's strategic nuclear bombing fleet. So we've been talking about how Russia's been using these to launch conventional weapons at Ukraine, cruise missiles, this is also a key element of its strategic nuclear deterrence.

And Russia is not thought to have more than 100 of these totally, and they're not making any more right now. So the loss of 10 or 20 would itself be really significant. If it's as high as the Ukrainian number, that's a third of that fleet. So we'll see what that tally comes to. But undoubtedly, the attack put a big dent in the fleet.

And Russia is not thought to have more than 100 of these totally, and they're not making any more right now. So the loss of 10 or 20 would itself be really significant. If it's as high as the Ukrainian number, that's a third of that fleet. So we'll see what that tally comes to. But undoubtedly, the attack put a big dent in the fleet.

Yeah. So, I mean, aside from just the boldness of this attack, it is sort of an evolution in a revolution. And the revolution of drones, for anyone who hasn't been paying attention, I think this attack should drive that home. How it can both affect what militaries think about in terms of their force protection, what they choose to invest in.

Yeah. So, I mean, aside from just the boldness of this attack, it is sort of an evolution in a revolution. And the revolution of drones, for anyone who hasn't been paying attention, I think this attack should drive that home. How it can both affect what militaries think about in terms of their force protection, what they choose to invest in.

It's kind of like if you were to think about other moments in wars where a new weapon comes to life, the weapon might have existed a bit, but then it's just used to great effect. So in World War II, for instance, you had the Germans using the V-1 and V-2 rockets to bombard London. You know, it would be some time, but that augured in the error of the missile.

It's kind of like if you were to think about other moments in wars where a new weapon comes to life, the weapon might have existed a bit, but then it's just used to great effect. So in World War II, for instance, you had the Germans using the V-1 and V-2 rockets to bombard London. You know, it would be some time, but that augured in the error of the missile.

And we've seen how missiles transformed, you know, how... countries fight or think about fighting or plan for fighting. And I think when it comes to drones, they've been around a while. Obviously, what's happened here in Ukraine is it's gotten supercharged.

And we've seen how missiles transformed, you know, how... countries fight or think about fighting or plan for fighting. And I think when it comes to drones, they've been around a while. Obviously, what's happened here in Ukraine is it's gotten supercharged.