Irregular Warfare Podcast Operation Spider’s Web and the Future of Asymmetric Warfare
Jun 25, 2025
Join Kip Kahler, a former Senior Defense Official in Ukraine, Brian Petit, a retired SF Army officer, and Kateryna Bondar, a CSIS fellow and advisor to Ukraine, as they dive into Operation Spider’s Web. They discuss Ukraine’s groundbreaking drone strategy, the innovative use of FPV drones, and how this operation is shifting paradigms in asymmetric warfare. Key points include the implications of disrupting Russian operations, the psychological impact on the Kremlin, and the importance of adapting military strategies in response to modern threats.
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Ukraine's Strategic Innovation Necessity
- Ukraine needed to innovate due to limitations in seizing the initiative against Russia.
- They targeted Russian critical national infrastructure to protect their own vital systems and survive winter.
Expanding the Operational Box
- Operation Spider's Web expanded Ukraine's operational range deep into Russia, similar to 9-11 changing U.S. defense concepts.
- This shocks the enemy and forces costly resource reallocations for Russia.
Covert Drone Assembly Inside Russia
- Ukrainian forces smuggled and assembled hundreds of small FPV drones inside Russia undetected.
- Truck drivers unknowingly delivered modular drone houses near targets, enabling simultaneous surprise strikes.