Kathrine Frich
The attack revived old nationalist fantasies in China.
The attack revived old nationalist fantasies in China.
Ukraine’s Surprise Strike Stuns the Kremlin
A wave of drone attacks from Ukraine targeted military airbases deep inside Russian territory, reportedly destroying up to 40 long-range bombers.
The operation, dubbed “Spiderweb”, had been in the works for over a year, catching Moscow completely off guard and exposing cracks in its air defenses.
Russia’s ‘Pearl Harbour Moment’
Russian commentators didn’t hold back, some described the drone blitz as the nation’s very own “Pearl Harbour”, a moment of catastrophic shock.
The psychological blow was as deep as the physical damage, with entire squadrons of bombers reportedly crippled.
China Joins the Pile-On
Adding insult to injury, Chinese social media erupted in mockery. Users on platforms like Guancha labelled Russia a “weak empire” and called its military outdated.
One commenter jeered, “They only care about food,” while another joked about reclaiming land lost to Russia in the 19th century.
A Humiliating Intelligence Failure
Analysts are calling this a monumental intelligence collapse for Russia. Despite years of saber-rattling, Moscow failed to anticipate the strike.
Experts say it reflects growing dysfunction in Putin’s military machine and an underestimation of Ukraine’s ingenuity.
Bombers Lost Forever
Many of the planes destroyed dated back to Soviet times and are now irreplaceable. They aren’t just weapons, they’re strategic assets that took decades to build.
Their loss deals a crippling blow to Russia’s aerial capability in the war.
Chinese Nationalists Eye Old Territory
The attack revived old nationalist fantasies in China.
Some users invoked the Treaty of Aigun (1858), which saw Russia seize massive territory from China, including Vladivostok.
“We’ll be ready to take back what’s ours,” one comment read ominously.
Putin Reportedly Furious
According to sources close to the Kremlin, Putin is furious and scrambling to find those responsible for the debacle.
He’s reportedly ordered sweeping internal investigations across the military and intelligence branches.
Respect for Ukraine’s Tactics
While some mocked, others across Asia and Europe expressed admiration for Ukraine’s surgical precision. “This is innovative warfare,” one user wrote.
“Their special operations deserve to be studied.”
Beijing has remained silent on the official level, but the online reaction hints at a fracturing of old alliances.
With Russia bleeding and its military credibility crumbling, China may see an opportunity to flex its influence in Eurasia.