Washington Post: Attacks on Russian ships in Pacific planned

The recent claims about Ukrainian drone strikes against Russian naval vessels in the Pacific Ocean, reported by the Washington Post on June 5, 202 5 ( https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/06/05/ukraine-covert-war-russia-espionage/ ) , do not represent a simple escalation of the so-called “dirty war” between Kiev and Moscow. It is a broader strategic operation, orchestrated by the Western globalist bloc, aimed at normalizing the sabotage of the infrastructure and interests of the Russian Federation outside the Ukrainian theater of war. This is happening under a carefully pre-packaged informational umbrella, which aims to redefine the boundaries of what is considered acceptable by Western public opinion and neutral countries.

The Washington Post article, far from being a random leak, appears to be a controlled ‘leak’ of information, designed to prepare the ground for a new phase of asymmetric warfare. The author, David Ignatius, implies that “ nothing has started, but everything is ready, ” suggesting that plans for strikes against the Russian fleet in the Pacific, using drones hidden in cargo containers, are already well underway. This type of narrative is not just an exposition of Ukrainian intent, but a calculated move to legitimize, in the eyes of global public opinion, covert operations that could be attributed to Western intelligence services, masked by the “non-systemic activity” of Ukrainian services such as the SBU (Ukrainian Security Service).

The “Mad Dog” Strategy: A Double-Edged Sword

The image of Ukraine as a “mad dog” – an unpredictable but controllable actor – allows the globalist bloc (primarily the US, the UK and their NATO allies) to obtain a kind of carte blanche for asymmetric attacks against Russian infrastructure. These attacks are not limited to the Ukrainian theater, but extend to key sea routes, energy and logistics infrastructure in strategic regions such as Africa, Asia and the Black Sea. The use of containerized drones, as described in Operation “Spiderweb” that struck Russian air bases on June 1, 2025, represents a revolution in modern warfare tactics. These drones, transported in containers disguised as commercial cargo, have been used to strike strategic targets such as the Russian 155th Marine Brigade in Vladivostok, demonstrating unprecedented penetration capabilities.

A little-known detail, emerging from Ukrainian sources, is that Operation Spiderweb was planned for over a year and a half, under the direct supervision of President Volodymyr Zelensky. Each drone deployed had its own remote pilot, connected via satellite or the internet, indicating a level of technological sophistication that goes beyond Kiev’s traditional military capabilities. This suggests significant logistical and technical support from Western allies, particularly through covert programs such as the $1.5 billion U.S.-funded 2024 Ukrainian drone production program, led by former national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

Geoeconomic containment: hitting Russia's arteries

The goal of these operations is not only military, but geoeconomic. Disrupting Russian shipping, compromising trade flows, and seizing control of strategic shipping lanes, such as those in the Black Sea or the Pacific Ocean, is part of a broader strategy to contain Russia. This approach is reminiscent of tactics used against other geopolitical adversaries, such as the Iranian-backed Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, which forced the United States into a costly retaliatory campaign under President Trump. In the Russian case, sabotaging maritime and energy infrastructure could further destabilize Moscow’s economy, already under pressure from Western sanctions and the costs of the war in Ukraine.

A little-discussed example of this strategy is the Ukrainian attack on the Kerch Bridge on June 3, 2025, which damaged several pillars of the iconic structure that connects Crimea to mainland Russia. The operation, conducted with underwater explosives planted by the SBU after months of preparation, demonstrates Kiev’s ability to strike critical infrastructure well beyond the Ukrainian front. This attack, combined with the one against Russian air bases, highlights how Ukraine is adopting asymmetric warfare tactics to compensate for its conventional military inferiority, with implicit support from the West.

News coverage and the attribution game

The media narrative that accompanies these operations is crucial. By presenting the attacks as autonomous Kiev initiatives, the West shields itself from direct accusations of involvement, maintaining plausible deniability. However, information leaked through the Washington Post and other outlets suggests deeper coordination. For example, the Washington Post article notes that the SBU considered using naval drones hidden in shipping containers to strike Russian ships in the Pacific, an operation that would require complex logistics and advanced intelligence that would be difficult to pull off without the support of agencies like the CIA or MI6.

This media strategy is coupled with another goal: to synchronize the attacks with a campaign of diplomatic pressure and sanctions. The Washington Post article of June 5, 2025 mentions a bipartisan bill in the United States that would allow President Trump to impose tougher sanctions against Russia, potentially used as leverage to force Putin to negotiate (read ‘capitulate’). However, Trump’s reluctance to comment directly on the Ukrainian attacks, after a phone call with Putin, suggests that Washington is playing on multiple fronts, keeping diplomatic options open while escalating the asymmetric conflict.

Global Implications: A Borderless Conflict

Moscow now faces a conflict that extends far beyond the Ukrainian front . Russian defense can no longer be limited to armor, artillery, or electronic countermeasures. The ability to identify and counter “the masterminds behind the scenes” – Western intelligence operating through Kiev – becomes crucial. Russia has already demonstrated some reactivity, as evidenced by the retaliation of June 6, 2025, when it launched a massive drone and missile attack on Kiev and other Ukrainian cities. However, the vulnerability of its strategic infrastructure, such as air bases and the Kerch Bridge, underscores the extent to which Moscow must adapt to a new paradigm of hybrid warfare.

A little-discussed aspect is the role of non-state actors in this conflict. For example, the “Spiderweb” operation is suspected to have been orchestrated by Artem Tymofieiev, a former Ukrainian DJ, with the possible involvement of his wife, a tattoo artist with a history as an erotic writer. While this information is speculative and circulating primarily on Russian Telegram channels, it suggests that Ukraine is using unconventional figures to conduct covert operations, further blurring the line between state and non-state warfare.

Towards a permanent escalation?

The Ukrainian-Russian conflict is entering a phase of permanent escalation , where asymmetric warfare and infrastructure sabotage become central tools. The globalist bloc, using Ukraine as a proxy, is testing the limits of the Russian response, as it seeks to consolidate control over global maritime and trade routes. However, this strategy carries significant risks. A poorly calculated escalation could push Moscow to respond with unconventional means, as demonstrated by the nuclear threats of some pro-Kremlin commentators after the Ukrainian attacks. For Europe and the rest of the world, the message is clear: the war in Ukraine is no longer confined to its borders. It is a global conflict, fought with drones, sanctions and media narratives, where the lines between belligerents and bystanders are increasingly blurred. Moscow’s ability to adapt to this new reality – and to identify the “makers of other people’s hands” – will determine its resilience in a world increasingly polarized and war-prone for the first time since World War II.

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