The United States warns: Russia’s “Revenge” for the “Web” operation is still ahead
Active discussions in Washington suggest that the Kremlin has not yet finished responding to the large-scale operation carried out by Ukrainian special services called "Web." According to recent sources, agencies and security experts agree that Russia is preparing a new phase of action in response, despite the already launched strike on Ukrainian airports early Friday morning, which Moscow officially labeled as a large-scale air attack. Information obtained from high-ranking officials—who spoke on condition of anonymity—indicates that Washington believes the real retaliation is still forthcoming. The Ukrainian "Web" operation, which destroyed or significantly damaged dozens of strategic military and aviation targets inside Russia, has caused unrest and tension in the Kremlin. However, according to American intelligence and military experts, Russia’s response will not come immediately and is likely to take on a different character than the previous strikes that have already been carried out. In this context, it is speculated that Russian actions could manifest in the form of an unexpectedly asymmetric attack, which may involve the use of various means—from high-precision airstrikes to other forms of damage. One source within the intelligence services emphasizes that we are possibly talking about the most intense actions in the near future, which could last for several days or even weeks, targeting not necessarily large strategic sites but symbolic objectives for Ukraine—government institutions, military bases, or critical infrastructure facilities. It is also highlighted that although Russia has already begun to demonstrate some activity through preliminary airstrikes, these actions should be regarded as only an escalation—a preparation for more extensive and multi-faceted retaliatory operations. At the same time, diplomatic sources warn that the risk of Russia resorting to new forms of aggression has not been exhausted, and escalation could pick up again in the coming days. Experienced analysts partially confirm this theory, stating that Russia, on its part, has already employed various forms of strikes against Ukraine, and it is now more difficult for Moscow to significantly raise the level of escalation without risking its own security. Specifically, experts emphasize that in the Kremlin, there are high chances they are trying to avoid a full-scale open conflict at a scale that would be unavoidable with traditional military offensives—considering sanctions, international tension, and internal political pressure. Michael Hoffman of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace stresses that Russia, given the means already used, has limited space for large-scale escalation, and its subsequent actions will likely aim at delivering symbolic but psychologically heavy blows against Ukrainian independence and government structures. This underscores that the situation remains tense and potentially dynamic—war is not ending but, on the contrary, could enter a new acute phase that will definitively determine the course of events in the region in the coming weeks.