3 weeks ago
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PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Ukraine has claimed its largest long-range drone strike of the war, targeting four Russian military airbases and damaging strategic nuclear-capable aircraft.
👥 Who’s Involved: Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Russian military.
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📍 Where & When: Strikes occurred Sunday at airbases in the Irkutsk, Murmansk, Ryazan, and Ivanovo regions of Russia, with drones allegedly smuggled into the country over 18 months.
💬 Key Quote: “The ‘office’ of our operation on Russian territory was located right next to the FSB of Russia in one of their regions,” boasted Zelensky.
⚠️ Impact: Ukraine estimates $7 billion in damage to Russian aviation assets, while Russia reports multiple aircraft fires but claims all attacks were repelled.
IN FULL:
Ukraine has claimed responsibility for its largest long-range drone strike against Russia since their conflict began, targeting four military airbases deep inside Russia and reportedly damaging nuclear-capable strategic bombers and nuclear early warning aircraft. The operation, dubbed “Spider’s Web,” was carried out by Ukraine’s SBU security service and involved 117 drones, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The strikes, which Ukraine says took a year and a half to prepare, used drones smuggled into Russia and concealed in wooden cabins mounted on civilian trucks. These mobile launch platforms were positioned near Russian airbases, and the drones were deployed remotely. Among the targeted sites were airbases in the Irkutsk, Murmansk, Ryazan, and Ivanovo regions, with some locations thousands of miles from Ukraine.
Zelensky described the operation as “absolutely brilliant,” boasting that “the ‘office’ of our operation on Russian territory was located right next to the [Federal Security Service] of Russia in one of their regions.” He said that all Ukrainian personnel involved in the operation were safely evacuated before the strikes. The SBU estimates the damage to Russian aviation at approximately $7 billion, though these claims remain unverified.
Footage of Ukrainian FPV strike drones flying into Russian Tu-95 bombers this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/Dayx6dQgFn
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 1, 2025
Russia’s defense ministry acknowledged attacks on airbases in five regions, labeling them “terrorist acts.” While it claimed all attacks on military sites in Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions were repelled, it admitted that several aircraft caught fire in Murmansk and Irkutsk. Russian authorities claim that some suspects connected to the attacks have been detained.
Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev confirmed that drones were launched from a truck in the region, adding that the launch site had been secured. Russian media similarly reported that drones emerged from vehicles, with footage showing them flying out of a Kamaz truck near a petrol station.
Meanwhile, Ukraine reported a massive Russian drone and missile assault on its own territory, claiming to have neutralized 385 aerial targets out of 472 launched. This marks one of the largest single Russian drone offensives to date.
Experts warn that the “Pearl Harbor” moment could significantly escalate Russia’s willingness to deploy nuclear weapons. Dr. Stephen Hall, a lecturer at Bath University, noted that Russia’s 2024 nuclear doctrine notes that attacks on military infrastructure within Russia, which disrupt nuclear response actions, could be met with a nuclear response.
PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump blamed Leonard Leo and the Federalist Society for recommending bad judges early in his first term, linking their influence to a U.S. Court of International Trade ruling that attempted to overturn his tariff policy.
👤Who’s Involved: President Trump, the Federalist Society, Leonard Leo, the U.S. Court of International Trade, and the New Civil Liberties Alliance.
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📍 Where & When: Truth Social platform, with Trump’s post on May 30, 2025, following the trade court’s now-stayed ruling.
🧾Key Quote: “I was new to Washington, and it was suggested that I use The Federalist Society… but then realized that they were under the thumb of a real ‘sleazebag’ named Leonard Leo,” Trump wrote.
⚠️ Impact: Trump warns that the tariff ruling threatens presidential power and America’s economic defense against adversaries like Communist China.
IN FULL:
President Donald J. Trump has blamed the Federalist Society for recommending bad judges to him near the beginning of his first term, when he had few contacts in Washington, D.C. The America First leader explained the situation on his Truth Social platform after the obscure U.S. Court of International Trade attempted to overturn his tariff policy in its entirety in a now-stayed ruling.
“Where do these… Judges come from? How is it possible for them to have potentially done such damage to the United States of America? Is it purely a hatred of ‘TRUMP?’ What other reason could it be?” Trump wrote.
He continued: “I was new to Washington, and it was suggested that I use The Federalist Society as a recommending source on Judges. I did so, openly and freely, but then realized that they were under the thumb of a real ‘sleazebag’ named Leonard Leo, a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America, and obviously has his own separate ambitions.”
Trump said that Leo, who is still co-chairman of the Federalist Society, “openly brags how he controls Judges, and even Justices of the United States Supreme Court—I hope that is not so, and don’t believe it is!”
The President said he was “so disappointed in The Federalist Society” for its “bad advice… on numerous Judicial Nominations,” warning that if the U.S. Court of International Trade’s tariff ruling is ultimately upheld, it will “destroy our Nation!”
On the prospect of Congress having to approve every tariff, he described a process in which “hundreds of politicians would sit around D.C. for weeks, and even months, trying to come to a conclusion,” hamstringing his ability to act in the American interest against foreign governments.
“If allowed to stand, this would completely destroy Presidential Power—The Presidency would never be the same!” Trump argued, insisting, “The President of the United States must be allowed to protect America against those that are doing it Economic and Financial harm.”
“Hopefully, the Supreme Court will reverse this horrible, Country threatening decision, QUICKLY and DECISIVELY,” he said.
The New Civil Liberties Alliance, which is affiliated with Leo, is among the organizations mounting a lawfare campaign against Trump’s tariff polices, attempting to overturn levies imposed on imports from Communist China.
In 202s, Leo’s Marble Freedom Trust—a 501(c)4 nonprofit that operates as a funding organ for a network of conservative legal and policy groups—effectively received a $1.65 billion contribution through a financial deal executed by Chicago businessman Barre Seid.
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