Ukrainian raid against Russian strategic bases, Putin silent: ‘Nuclear assets hit’

Drone attack on Russian triad targets. Alarm among Trump’s allies: ‘Risk of nuclear escalation’

While Russian President Vladimir Putin avoids public comment on the massive Ukrainian attack on Russia’s strategic air bases, alarm is growing among American politicians and analysts close to President Donald Trump over the risk of a nuclear response from Moscow. The action, carried out with drones, hit dozens of military aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22M bombers and an An-50 reconnaissance aircraft, all of which are also used as carriers of Russia’s nuclear triad.

According to the Kremlin, the attack was ordered by the Ukrainian secret services and has been formally classified as an ‘act of terrorism’ by the Investigative Committee headed by Aleksandr Bastrykin. During a brief meeting with ministers, Putin avoided directly mentioning the raid but denounced the ‘terrorist’ climate created by Kiev, which he said had undermined the planned negotiations in Istanbul. ‘How can you negotiate with those who use terror as a strategy?’, asked the Russian president.

The White House’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, expressed concern about a possible disproportionate reaction from Russia. Along the same lines, Kirill Dmitriev, a key figure in Putin’s system and close to Trump’s entourage, called the Ukrainian action ‘an attack on nuclear assets’ that ‘requires an urgent response to avoid an uncontrollable escalation.’

Donald Trump, in a message posted on Truth Social, reported a telephone conversation with Putin shortly after the raid, during which the Russian leader reportedly anticipated an imminent response. No details were provided about a possible confrontation between the two over Ukraine, although the Kremlin specified that ‘the texts of the draft memoranda’ between Moscow and Kiev ‘were not discussed’.

Prominent figures in the MAGA movement such as Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk also expressed strong alarm. Kirk compared the situation to Pearl Harbor, arguing that ‘we are closer to nuclear war than at any time since 2022.’ This fear is also shared by more moderate voices in the American conservative camp: Dan Caldwell, a former Pentagon adviser, warned that ‘attacking elements of the nuclear triad could trigger an out-of-control spiral’.

On the diplomatic front, tensions remain high. Russia has confirmed its willingness to negotiate, but continues to describe the Ukrainian leadership as ‘terrorists.’ Meanwhile, Ukraine has not issued any official statements on the operation, but the signs seem to indicate a strategy of pressure aimed at strengthening its position ahead of possible future negotiations.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)