Second " Spiderweb" operation in Moscow's airports; missile and drone strikes
Watch on YouTubeVideo summary
In early 2026, Ukrainian leadership contemplated a massive operation utilizing artificial intelligence-driven drones to disrupt Moscow's airports, an initiative code-named M&M's after the candy brand due to its reliance on thousands of small, inexpensive units. The strategic objective was to overwhelm Russian air defenses with up to 1,000 autonomous drones in a single night, forcing international airlines to suspend flights and effectively closing Moscow's airspace to civilian traffic for an extended period. These AI-powered systems were designed to independently identify targets by comparing real-time terrain imagery with preloaded maps, allowing them to make strike decisions without direct human intervention, thereby aiming to inflict significant economic and social pressure on the Russian regime.
The plan was driven by the belief that disrupting the elite's ability to travel would create internal political leverage against Vladimir Putin. By targeting the infrastructure used by oligarchs and wealthy supporters, Ukrainian officials hoped to provoke complaints from these influential figures, potentially pushing the Russian leadership toward negotiations amidst the war's ongoing economic hardships. However, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed serious reservations about the proposal, particularly fearing that autonomous systems might mistakenly identify and shoot down civilian aircraft, resulting in the loss of innocent lives. Despite these moral concerns and the legal debates surrounding the use of independent targeting algorithms, Zelenskyy initially allowed preparations to proceed as a means to exert additional pressure on Russia.
The development of the M&M's project ultimately stalled in July 2026 following the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was identified as one of the primary architects of the plan. Fedorov had been instrumental in building the programming teams for the AI systems and securing European funding, but his departure left the operation's future uncertain under the new leadership of Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara. Sources indicated that while the project could potentially be resumed, it would require assembling a new team and approximately three months of work to restart development efforts. This halt underscores the complex balance between Ukraine's desire to escalate its military pressure on Russia and the critical ethical constraints regarding the use of autonomous weapons in active conflict zones.
Read the full video transcript
In early 2026, Ukrainian leaders
considered conducting a large-scale
operation using artificial
intelligence-powered drones to block
Moscow airports, according to The
Atlantic, citing sources familiar with
the matter. The operation, code-named
M&M's, involved drone attacks on
airports in Moscow and around the
Russian capital. The hope was that the
massive strikes would force
international airlines to suspend
flights to Russia. As the author of this
article recounts, when Ukrainian
officials presented the plan to
Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the winter, the
president expressed serious concerns. He
was particularly concerned about the
risk of shooting down a civilian
aircraft and killing passengers or crew
members. At the same time, out of a
desire to exert additional pressure on
Russia, Zelenskyy, according to sources,
>> [music]
>> allowed preparations for the operation
to proceed. The publication notes that
this wasn't just a simple drone attack.
The plan called for the use of
autonomous drones capable of
independently finding targets using
artificial intelligence systems. The
author explains that this technology
allows the drone to compare images of
the terrain with preloaded maps and
photographs [music] of the target and
then independently decide whether to
strike. According to one source, the
operation could have required up to
1,000 drones in a single night [music]
to penetrate Russian air defenses. The
large number of small and relatively
inexpensive drones is what gave rise to
the name M&M's, a reference to the
famous candy. The publication notes that
the scale of the undertaking was
significant, but not unprecedented in
the current war. The operation's primary
goal was not merely to physically damage
aviation infrastructure. The idea is to
close Moscow's airspace [music] to
civilian flights for an extended period.
The Atlantic quotes one of those
involved in the plan's development. The
publication notes that the suspension of
Moscow airports could directly impact
Russian officials, [music]
oligarchs, and other wealthy supporters
of Vladimir Putin. People from the elite
could come to Putin and say, "We have a
problem here." The publication source
said. It was assumed that such pressure,
combined with the economic and social
consequences of the war, could push the
Russian leadership toward negotiations.
At the same time, the plan's
implementation was fraught with serious
legal and moral risks. The Atlantic
notes that the use of autonomous systems
that independently select and engage
targets remains the subject of heated
debate regarding its compliance with the
laws of war.
The possibility of target
misidentification is particularly
concerning. According to two sources,
development of MNMS was halted in July
following the dismissal of Ukrainian
Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who,
according to sources, was one of the
main architects of this plan. He was
responsible for developing Ukraine's
military drone program, building a team
of programmers for the AI system, and
seeking European funding. Following the
appointment of new Defense [music]
Minister Yevhen Khmara, the operation's
future remains uncertain. One source
told The Atlantic that the project could
be resumed, but would require a new team
and approximately 3 months of work.