The Cards Ukraine Has Left to Play
As Donald Trump intervenes to protect Russia’s oil refineries, Ukraine goes after its airports and data centers.
Recent developments have stirred alarm in Ukraine, following a string of setbacks. Russian missile strikes have intensified their assaults on Ukrainian cities. Additionally, Donald Trump's announcement of a deal to purchase Russian diesel fuel, along with reports of U.S. support disruptions, including the Starlink communication system, has further destabilized the situation in Kyiv.
Amidst this gloom, a brief moment of respite emerged on Friday when Ukrainians could envision their adversary, Vladimir Putin, trapped on his plane in Moscow, unable to land. The drone attack that forced the closure of Moscow's airports also provided Ukrainians with a sense of revenge, showcasing their capability to harm Russia even if Trump chooses to abandon them.
Ukrainian drones have been attacking Moscow almost daily since early last month, a military operation dubbed M&Ms, which does not rely on U.S. technology or intelligence. This strategy aims to keep the pressure on Moscow and potentially influence future peace talks. However, the vulnerability of airports and airplanes worldwide has been highlighted, with recent attacks on the main airport in Riyadh and the evacuation of U.S. bombers from an English air base due to Iranian drone threats.
The spread of these weapons has made such attacks more affordable and easier to carry out. In early August, a suspected Russian drone near Leipzig was discovered with explosives ready to destroy a Ukrainian cargo jet. A month later, Russian drones targeted the plane carrying Zelensky, who was en route to Norway. Putin, aware of the threat, spent 90 minutes on the phone with Trump, securing a deal for millions of barrels of Russian diesel.
Zelensky complied with Trump's request to halt bombing Russian oil refineries, but intensified attacks on other sensitive targets continued.
These attacks on Russian data centers have severely disrupted online services, including banking, delivery, map, and taxi apps. Ukrainian drones have forced authorities to cancel 345 flights at Moscow's airports in a single week, rendering the Russian sky extremely dangerous for civilian aviation. While the M&Ms operation is only beginning, it holds potential leverage in future peace talks.
Trump's comments about stopping the bombings of Russian oil refineries suggest a willingness to negotiate, but the ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure highlight the need for a comprehensive response.
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