Russia's defence strategy in tatters after Ukraine drone attack exposes crucial flaw

Ukraine's audacious attack on Russian airbases has undermined a key defence assumption, according to a security expert. The Kremlin was left reeling after Ukrainian drones launched from lorries attacked airbases deep inside Russia.

Some of the bases were located thousands of kilometres from the Ukraine border, in the Arctic and Siberia. Political commentators in the state media have already referred to the devastating attack as Russia's "Pearl Harbour".

Kyiv claims more than 40 aircraft including a $350 million A50 spy plane were damaged or destroyed.

The attacks provoked a furious reaction online from pro-Kremlin military bloggers, who questioned why so many of the bombers were left exposed in the open.

The answer partly lies in the fact that for years, Russian military planners have seen the country's sheer size as a strategic advantage, giving them a false sense of security.

William Alberque, a former Nato arms control official, told : "There is a sense among Russians that the country's sheer size offers strategic depth - a kind of sanctuary.

"What the Ukrainians have done is strike at the heart of that assumption."

That assumption has been shaped by centuries of history and previous conflicts, including the Napoleonic War of 1812 and Hitler's 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union.

Alberque added that the targeted bombers were used to strike civilian targets in Ukraine, including during the most recent mass attacks that killed and injured scores of people.

An added problem for the Kremlin is that the Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers that were destroyed are no longer in production, making them impossible to replace.

The coordinated attacks were over a year in the planning and represent a stunning intelligence failure.

Vladimir Osechkin, a renowned Kremlin critic with contacts inside Russia's security services, claimed the Russian President was on the war path.

Putin was reported to be holding meetings with the General Staff, FSB and FSO to determine which high ranking officers in the FSB's Counterintelligence will walk the plank for the spectacular failure.

Vladimir Osechkin, a renowned Kremlin critic with strong contacts inside Russia's security services, claimed the Russian President was on the war path.

Putin wass reported to be holding meetings with the General Staff, FSB and FSO to determine which high ranking officers in the FSB's Counterintelligence will walk the plank for the spectacular failure.

The list of the "guilty" will be drafted starting Monday, according to FSB informants.