Trump shifts stance on Ukraine weapons amid Pentagon pause

This attack, more than 18 months in the making, is *** sign of how Ukraine has changed the face of modern warfare, damaging air bases deep within Russian territory. *** CNN analysis of thousands of drone strikes on Russia over the past 3 years along with video and an exclusive interview. We coordinates light on how Ukraine’s drone program has rapidly expanded since the start of the war. In the first months, you can see the attacks are mainly along the border area, but by the end of they start hitting key military targets like this blast shown on surveillance footage at *** fuel depot at Engels Air Base in December 2022. 5 months later, and the missions become more ambitious. This bold drone attack in May 2023 even damaged the roof of the Kremlin, the heart of the Russian government, and over 400 miles from. Drones are now frequently flying over Moscow, bringing the terror of war home to the Russian people. At the same time, Ukraine is maintaining pressure on Russia’s war supplies wherever they are stored. In late summer of 2023, they target Skov Air Base in northern Russia beyond Moscow. In satellite imagery taken shortly after, you can see the damaged planes. By 2024, the number of drones getting sent into Russia is soaring. In June alone, over 1000 launched, according to CNN analysis. Ukraine’s muscle comes from *** coordinated national effort to make combat drones ready to be sent into Russia. We spoke exclusively to one of these manufacturers who told us how the war kickstar Ukraine’s national drone unit. I think Ukraine is in this area which drones were used last weekend is still *** tight-lipped secret. But experts say his drones are identical to those seen in images of the attack and were most likely the ones used. We can produce very good drones for special missions, and we will protect our country from Russian aggression. He shares some extraordinary insights into how it was possible for Ukraine to target so deep into Russia, hitting an airbase 2500 miles away. Is it possible to remote control that drone from Ukraine while the drone was in Balaya Air Base, for example? No problem. We can coordinate our drones in Moscow, etc. We need to link across satellite, across uh mobile towers or maybe our pilot will say near Craven. And the success of the program is apparent by the damage left behind. Multiple air bases hit, some in Russia’s far east. Ukraine claims it inflicted $7 billion worth of damage on Russian weaponry, though that number has not been verified. Even so, the details of this stealthy operation are extraordinary. Drones smuggled in on wooden crates, then driven across Russia in containers. Catching locals by surprise as drones flew out of trucks to launch the assaults. Russia now faces an even steeper challenge to its long held dominance of the skies, Katie Pola, CNN, London.