This is John Batchster. Conversation with colleague John Hardy of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

What is the significance of the drone attack on strategic bombers parked across the Russian landscape?

John thinks that it is not possible to imagine a worse strike than the Russians have unleashed on Ukraine all through these

last years, and the idea that it's unacceptably or disproportionately high is unlikely.

At the same time, John is questioning the idea that this strike has any significance for

the long-range consequences of the war. Won't win the war, this strike has any significance for the long-range consequences of the war,

won't win the war, this strike. Here's John to explain. More of this deny.

I don't know what the Russians have said privately. I do not think that, you know,

we've seen Ukraine damage or destroy Russian long-range bombers before in this war.

Never this many at once, but I'm sure that the Kremlin will be infuriated

and, you know, may, you could try to launch some retaliatory strikes against Ukraine,

but, you know, really that's nothing new.

So I wouldn't expect, you know, some folks in the U.S. have been kind of concerned about the potential for Russian escalation

in response to this. I think those concerns are probably overstated. And, and, but, you know,

in the same vein, or on this other side of the coin, rather, I think that, you know, those that cheer this operation as a kind of turning point where Ukraine is able to inflict costs such that the Kremlin reconsider its war of aggression, that's probably too optimistic.