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Kellogg: Ukraine’s Strategic Strike Tells Russia “We Can Play This Game Too”
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Ukraine’s recent strike on Russia’s strategic aviation, operation Spider Web, has delivered a reputational blow to the Kremlin, signaling Kyiv’s resolve and strategic capability, said Keith Kellogg, the US Special Envoy for Ukraine, during an appearance on Fox News on June 3.
“This operation was a serious blow to Russia’s image and showed that Ukraine is not backing down—it’s saying, ‘we can play this game too,’” Kellogg stated.
He emphasized that the strike’s significance lies less in the destruction of aircraft and more in the psychological effect it had on the Russian leadership and military.
Kellogg noted that the operation demonstrated Ukraine’s ability to strike high-value military targets deep inside Russian territory, shattering Moscow’s sense of impunity and reinforcing the message that Ukraine remains determined and capable despite the war’s toll.
While he did acknowledge concerns that such attacks might raise the risk of escalation, Kellogg stressed that the message sent by Ukraine was clear: it will not be intimidated.
“When you attack part of the opponent’s national survival system—which is a nuclear triad—you’re raising the risk level because you don’t know how the other side will respond,” he explained. “That’s what they’ve actually done… I think that’s what we’re trying to avoid. We don’t want to get to that point.”
Earlier, reports emerged that international leaders have praised Ukraine’s June 1 drone strike targeting multiple Russian strategic airbases, describing the operation Spider Web as a sophisticated and legitimate act of self-defense.
