How Russia might retaliate against Ukraine for Operation “Spider's Web”: Expert explains

Talks about Russia potentially “retaliating” against Ukraine for the destruction of its strategic aviation as a result of Operation “Spider's Web” are manipulative, as the Russian occupiers were attacking Ukrainian territory with impunity even before Ukraine’s strikes on Russia.

This was said by Oleh Katkov, Editor-in-Chief of Defense Express, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

“It’s important to note the following: Russia was attacking Ukraine and its civilian infrastructure with Kh-101 missiles and the aircraft that were destroyed at these airbases. These missiles were killing civilians. They were deliberately using these missiles to kill innocent people, and they were doing it with impunity. That was the main issue,” the expert said.

In his view, any talk suggesting that the SSU did something wrong and that “now Russia will do something” only plays into the Kremlin’s rhetoric.

What will be the U.S. reaction?

“If someone from anonymous sources in Washington starts complaining, perhaps it’s worth checking whether they’re personally a fan of Putin. From what I see in specialized publications, there are no such narratives anywhere. They’re more in awe that this was accomplished,” Katkov says.

Is the strike on Sumy a “retaliation”?

He recalls that Russia has been attacking Ukrainian cities since the first days of the full-scale war, and the strike on Sumy with MLRS is far from the first of its kind.

“Any talk about the enemy potentially retaliating — what were they doing before? There was a strike on Sumy with MLRS today. I’m certain they see it as "retaliation." Were there MLRS strikes on cities before? From the very first days. They hit Kharkiv with Smerch on the first day, if I’m not mistaken. The enemy demonstrated a strike on Dnipro with this "Oreshnik"’ which was a rehearsal for a nuclear strike. They showed their readiness to simply destroy a million-strong city,” the analyst reminds.