Mumbai, May 1 (PTI) Sustainable energy solutions provider Empower India Ltd (EIL) on Friday said it has signed a term sheet for the proposed acquisition of a majority stake in UAE-based MABIL. The transaction is structured as a strategic cross-border acquisition to be executed through a share swap
ET AI Ready is an AI Readiness Certification by The Economic Times that helps institutions assess and demonstrate their preparedness for an AI-driven environment through a structured, expert-led evaluation. How AI-ready is an institution, really? As expectations around skills and outcomes change
GST Collection For April 2026: India’s goods and services tax (GST) collections jumped 8.7 per cent year-on-year to hit an all-time high of Rs 2,42,702 crore in April 2026, according to the latest official data released on Friday, May 1. Net GST revenue for the month stood at Rs 2,10,909 crore
Naveen Patnaik, BJD leader, celebrated International Labour Day. He demanded a minimum wage hike to Rs 800. Patnaik stated the BJP government is not effectively implementing welfare schemes. He highlighted that frontline workers like Mission Shakti members, Bank Mitras
Patriot Twitter reviews: Mammootty, Fahadh Faasil film called wasted opportunity; Mohanlal fans disappointedPatriot Twitter reviews: Mahesh Narayanan's Mammootty and Mohanlal-starrer is receiving mixed reviews from the internet. May 1, 2026, 16:22:32 IST By Neeshita Nyayapati Share via Copy link
Google is bringing Gemini to your car—and it’s about to change how you drive, navigate, and multitaskGoogle is rolling out Gemini to cars via updates, bringing real-time insights, message summaries, EV data, and smarter voice controls on the go. Published on: May 01
Following major protests by workers in Noida last month, security has been tightened across the district on the occasion of International Labour Day. Noida On High Alert: The National Capital Region’s major city Noida on Friday turned into a fortress in view of International Labour Day
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari on Friday (May 1, 2026) reacted to the Supreme Court granting anticipatory bail to party leader Pawan Khera, claiming that "truth has won and justice has prevailed." The Supreme Court has granted Congress leader Pawan Khera anticipatory bail in a criminal case
A WSJ analysis reveals how Ukraine used homegrown tech and old-school spycraft in the attack. KYIV, Ukraine—Ukraine’s spectacular drone attack on Russia’s strategic bomber fleet on Sunday began with a daunting request from Ukraine’s president to his spy chief in late fall 2023.
KYIV, Ukraine—Ukraine's spectacular drone attack on Russia's strategic bomber fleet on Sunday began with a daunting request from Ukraine's president to his spy chief in late fall 2023.
The Russian Air Force was pummeling Ukraine's power stations and cities with missiles, overwhelming meager air defenses, and Volodymyr Zelensky wanted to know: How can we fight back?
Lt. Gen. Vasyl Maliuk, a 42-year-old career security officer with broad shoulders and a stern mien, has earned a reputation for innovative operations with explosive naval and aerial drones that forced Russia to withdraw much of its Black Sea Fleet from its base in occupied Crimea and damaged dozens of oil plants and military-production facilities deep inside Russia.
But the task was formidable. The strategic bombers that launched many of Russia's most powerful missiles operate from beyond the range of Ukraine's air-defense systems, and were based at airfields across the country as much as 3,000 miles from Ukraine. Ukraine's SBU security service, which Maliuk heads, has deployed long-range aerial drones effectively, but they are vulnerable to Russian air defenses, including missile interceptors and jammers.
What Maliuk and his team came up with shocked the world on Sunday with its audacity. The agency smuggled Ukrainian drone parts into Russia and assembled them at a secret location. SBU operatives inside Russia used unwitting truck drivers to deliver a modern version of the Trojan horse by concealing the drones in the roofs of wooden containers. On Sunday, the roofs, activated remotely, slid open on trucks close to Russian airbases, releasing dozens of drones and adding a dash of Transformers to old-school spycraft.
More than 100 quadcopters, small drones with four rotors, emerged and zipped toward their targets, some descending through smoke billowing from already-damaged aircraft.
A Wall Street Journal analysis of official Ukrainian statements along with satellite images, accounts by people familiar with the operation, and photographs and videos posted on social media shows how a meticulously planned operation that combined homegrown technology with the classic art of deception unfolded.
Ukraine said that it damaged 41 warplanes valued at $7 billion at four bases using drones that cost about $2,000 each. Publicly available videos and satellite imagery reviewed by Journal showed 12 damaged planes across two airbases.
“The numbers the Ukrainians have been providing aren't backed up yet by hard evidence,” said Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, a Monterey, Calif.-based think tank that studies weapons of mass destruction. Lair identified the damaged planes through satellite imagery and social media.
Still, he said, “It's clear that this has dealt a very heavy blow to the Russian strategic bomber force, even if we aren't seeing the numbers that the Ukrainians have claimed.”
Of the four airbases that the SBU said it targeted, satellite imagery indicates that three sustained damage, and only two show visible signs of damaged aircrafts—the Belaya and Olenya airbases.
Satellite imagery from Monday shows that a third airbase, Dyagilevo, sustained only a patch of burned grass, according to Lair.
Much of the damaged equipment is irreplaceable or hard to rebuild. A Ukrainian law-enforcement official said at least one of the targets damaged was a rare A-50 plane, which provides airborne early warning of potential threats and targets as well as command and control of the battlefield. Available satellite imagery doesn't show any damaged A-50s.
Most of the planes hit were Tupolev Tu-95 bombers, a Soviet-era aircraft still crucial to Russia's long-range missile campaigns. While the extent of the damage to Tu-95s remains unclear, in light of the aircrafts' age and scarcity of parts, even relatively minor damage could derail Russia's air missions for months, Lair said.
Maliuk and his agency have plenty of experience striking prime targets, from the use of a truck bomb to damage the Kerch Bridge between mainland Russia and occupied Crimea to assassinations on Russian territory, including the killing of a Russian general with an exploding scooter as well as a bomb hidden in a statuette to kill a prominent war blogger.
Zelensky said that Ukrainian intelligence operatives in Russia had set up a base right under the noses of Russia's Federal Security Service, the FSB. Russian law enforcement searched a concrete warehouse Sunday in Chelyabinsk, an industrial city in the Ural Mountains about 900 miles east of Moscow and a few miles from the local FSB headquarters, according to Russian media.
Russian state media named a Ukrainian deejay who had been living in Russia and recently relocated to the city last year as one of the people responsible for logistics behind the drone attack, purchasing the trucks that would carry the drones and coordinating the drivers. He didn't respond to requests for comment.
Some of the materials the SBU used in the operation had to be smuggled across tightly controlled borders, including the parts that would eventually be assembled into the attack drones.
A Ukrainian law-enforcement official said the drones used were quadcopters called Osa, produced by the Ukrainian company First Contact. The craft, about the length of a man's arm, are made in Ukraine, can carry a payload just over 7 pounds and travel at a maximum speed of just over 90 miles per hour, according to the manufacturer's website.
Valeriy Borovyk, the founder of First Contact, declined to comment on whether the drones were used in the operation, but said they are manufactured for complex special operations.
Osa, Ukrainian for “bee,” has several alternatives for how it can be controlled. One of them is the ability to connect to cellular networks, which Russia shuts down when it expects an incoming strike but remain operational when there is an element of surprise, as there was with Sunday's operation.
Borovyk said it was the SBU's meticulous preparation ahead of the strike that would have allowed for drone operators to do their job effectively. He said the strike portion of the operation was the cherry on top.
“But this cake, they prepared it, cooked it, put it in a box, decorated it—to continue the metaphor—and all of this was done with great care and detail,” Borovyk said.
The truck drivers said to Russian authorities that they weren't told about the contents of the containers and were instructed to stop at gas stations or roadside rest stops near the airports, according to Russian media.
Once parked at their designated locations, the roofs of the containers housing the quadcopters were opened remotely, the SBU said, and the drones flew out with a high-pitched buzz.
A photo shows Maliuk as he surveyed diagrams of planes where the most vulnerable spots are marked with red crosses. Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, said the crosses mark where internal fuel tanks are located on each type of plane, which would have caused a major fire when ignited by the small payload from the drones.
Celebrating the attack, Zelensky lauded the SBU—and personally thanked Maliuk—for the operation, which he said showed Ukraine is still in the fight.
“Russia's whole narrative, which they spread everywhere, in Europe, in Britain, in America, that they're safe, they're winning the war—this narrative is not working,” Zelensky told reporters Monday. “They're not safe.”
Write to James Marson at james.marson@wsj.com and Brenna T. Smith at brenna.smith@wsj.com
Get 360° coverage—from daily headlines
to 100 year archives.
Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: Trump Files 'Powerhouse' USD 20 Billion Libel Lawsuit Against WSJ Oracle, Silver Lake consortium to control 80% stake in TikTok in US, WSJ reports MHI to revise PLI-Auto budget as homegrown automakers claim sops for second year India’s homegrown AI revolution A curated edit of conscious design-led gifts by Indian homegrown brands China’s homegrown jets make their debut outside Asia 5 Homegrown Wellness Brands Redefining The Industry New initiative aims to strengthen India's homegrown cyber resilience Want Homegrown Black Pepper SWOT analysis of INDIA bloc led by RJD-Congress combine
Spotlight on pole vaulters at Indian Indoor Open in BhubaneswarSpotlight on pole vaulters at Indian Indoor Open in Bhubaneswar Published on: May 01, 2026 4:46 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Bhubaneswar, National record holders Dev Kumar Meena of Madhya Pradesh and Baranica Elangovan of Tamil Nadu
5 hours ago
The bodies of a woman and her child, found tied together with a single life jacket, were recovered from the reservoir at Bargi Dam, located on the Narmada River, in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur after a cruise boat capsized on Thursday night. The death toll in the tragedy has risen to nine
5 hours ago
has spent more than $15 billion developing its next-generation Starship rocket, according to the company's IPO registration reviewed by Reuters, a sum that dwarfs the cost of its workhorse Falcon rocket as Elon Musk's space company nears a decade trying to perfect a fully reusable launch system
5 hours ago
Tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz. A UAE official voiced deep mistrust in Iran's unilateral actions. The vital waterway faces a blockade, impacting global oil supplies and prices. Reports of potential new U.S. military strikes have further unsettled markets
5 hours ago
Ek Din Movie Review: Gentle, simple, heartwarming love stories are always welcome, especially in this climate where one can’t ignore Hindi cinema’s obsessive affinity towards aggressive, gory, testosterone-pumped actioners. But simplicity shouldn’t be mistaken for shallowness or a lack of
5 hours ago
Ahed Badawi lived for more than a decade in Bahrain, a small Gulf country that — unlike her native Syria — rarely made headlines. It provided a refuge for her, her sister and their elderly mother during Syria’s 14 years of civil war. “Nothing at all ever happened there,” she said
5 hours ago
The Allahabad High Court on Friday dismissed a petition seeking a case against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for his remarks that the Congress was fighting not just the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh but also the Indian state, Live Law reported
5 hours ago
An electrician’s simple trick using a fan regulator to control a tube light’s brightness has left many people amused online. The short clip shows how a common household device was used in an unexpected way to dim the light smoothly. The video has now sparked conversations around Indian
5 hours ago
The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the National Forensic Sciences University to examine an audio clip allegedly linking former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh to the ethnic violence in the state, PTI reported. The order was issued by Justices Sanjay Kumar and K Vinod Chandran after the
5 hours ago
Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne Khan’s son Hridhan Roshan turned 18 on May 1. On this special day, both of them took to social media to share heartfelt wishes for their son, marking the milestone with love and pride. They posted rare and cherished glimpses of Hridhan along with emotional notes
5 hours ago
Iran war: Dubai's vibrant restaurant scene is feeling the pinch. Chefs are struggling to get key ingredients like avocados and tomatillos. The ongoing conflict in Iran has disrupted sea routes and increased air freight costs. This is forcing restaurants to scale back, cut staff, and adapt menus
5 hours ago
May 01, Birthday Horoscope: Here's what the tarot cards have in store for youIf your birthday falls on May 01, here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot. Updated on: May 01, 2026 3:33 PM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link If you were born on May 1
5 hours ago
‘I couldn’t swim back against it’: Woman recalls near-death experience in RishikeshArpita Sahu, who visited Rishikesh from Noida, shared how strangers came together to save her. Published on: May 01, 2026 3:38 PM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link What was supposed to be a fun weekend
5 hours ago
Theegala off to a solid start, lies in Top-10 at Doral; Bhatia is Tied-15thTheegala off to a solid start, lies in Top-10 at Doral; Bhatia is Tied-15th Published on: May 01, 2026 5:04 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Doral , Indian-American golfer Sahith Theegala got off to a blistering start
5 hours ago
‘Work ends at 4:30 pm here’: Indian man compares Canada’s IT work culture with India’s long hoursAn Indian man compared Canada and India work culture, highlighting long hours and lack of balance. Published on: May 01, 2026 4:40 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link An Indian
5 hours ago
Is Ghalibaf looking to oust Abbas Araghchi? Report claims big rift in Iranian leadershipTop Iranian leadership believes that Araghchi has acted more like a Vahidi aide and less like a cabinet minister tasked with implementing government policy. Updated on: May 01
5 hours ago
Two inquiry committees set up to probe Bowring Hospital compound wall collapseTwo inquiry committees set up to probe Bowring Hospital compound wall collapse Published on: May 01, 2026 4:32 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Bengaluru, The Karnataka government has constituted two committees to probe the
5 hours ago
The feud between the generations was a popular TV theme in the 1970s, and now the interactions and frictions between Gen Z, Gen X, millennials and boomers are all over our screens once again. Why does the generation gap continue to make us laugh – and can the laughter help to heal the rift?The
5 hours ago
Delhi University law admissions 2026: Registration for B.A. LL.B. (honours) and B.B.A. LL.B. (honours) programmes for academic session 2026-27 at University of Delhi has opened, with candidates required to apply online through https://law.uod.ac.in
5 hours ago
The National Testing Agency has released important guidelines for candidates appearing in the NEET UG 2026, which is scheduled to be held on May 3, 2026. In a public notice dated April 30, the agency advised candidates to follow all instructions carefully to avoid any last-minute problems at
5 hours ago
Noida International Airport to start commercial flights from June 15The airport management will meet IndiGo, Air India Express and Akasa Air next week to review flight plans and slots, an official said. Updated on: May 01, 2026 4:38 PM IST By Neha LM Tripathi Share via Copy link The Noida
5 hours ago
iPhone 20: Apple’s 20th anniversary iPhone might be its most ambitious one everA bezel-less screen, a bigger battery and a button-less body – here's everything the iPhone 20 is likely to hold in store for us. Updated on: May 01, 2026 2:36 PM IST Share via Copy link You may be interested in
5 hours ago
Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has said he is “over the moon excited” about India, characterising the country’s market as a “huge opportunity” for the tech giant. “Yes. I think it's a huge opportunity for us. We've been focused on this for a while
5 hours ago
Shivalinga found near Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar Temple complex during Simhastha 2028 work in UjjainThe discovery was made while heavy machinery was engaged in clearing land for the temple’s expansion project. Published on: May 01, 2026 4:25 PM IST Edited by Priyanjali Narayan Share via Copy link A
5 hours ago
Surat has long held a reputation for being the wild west of fusion. But its latest creation, the Aam Ras Cheese Dosa, might have finally pushed the internet to its breaking point. What started as a summer video by food blogger Vatsal Jariwala (@thefoodiecam) has morphed into a full-scale digital
5 hours ago
, chief executive officer (CEO) of ’s , has stepped down after completing four years at the company.Jain shared the update in a LinkedIn post, describing it as “not a goodbye” but a “relaunch.”“Decade long Chapter 1 is closed. Chapter 2 starts now — and the barriers I want to break
5 hours ago
Pop star Dua Lipa is not expected to perform at the heavyweight bout between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury later this year. Britons Joshua, 36, and Fury, 37, have agreed terms for a long-awaited all-British contest targeted for the end of 2026. However
5 hours ago
