Ukrainian drone attacks forced NATO to reassess base vulnerabilities — NYT investigation

June 3, 2025, New York. - After a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian airfields on June 1, NATO member countries began reassessing the vulnerabilities of their own military facilities. This was reported by The New York Times, citing sources among analysts and military experts.

What happened on June 1

On the night of June 1, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, using unmanned aerial vehicles (including FPV drones), struck Russian airfields located in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed damage to several aircraft at airfields in Murmansk and Irkutsk. No casualties among military personnel or civilians were reported.

NATO and US reaction

According to the NYT, the incident caused concern among the military command of NATO countries. Samuel Bendett, an analyst at the US Navy's Center for Naval Analysis, emphasized that attacks on Russian military facilities deep within the territory show how vulnerable even well-guarded airfields can be. "Such a strike can be carried out at any moment, and most bases currently do not have comprehensive protection against such threats," he said.

James Patton Rogers, a UAV expert from Cornell University, noted the particular vulnerability of Western bases outside Europe. According to him, at extensive and poorly protected facilities in Africa and the Middle East, where there are many unstable factors, creating an effective anti-drone defense system is extremely difficult.

Precedents in the region

The NYT recalled that earlier, in January 2024, a drone attacked an American base in northeastern Jordan. Three US servicemen were killed and 25 others were injured. This case became one of the most serious incidents outside the combat zone and intensified debates in the Pentagon about modernizing base defenses.

Questions about the US defense concept

One of the main conclusions reached by experts is the need to revise current concepts of air and missile defense. Former US Army Commander in Europe, General Ben Hodges, called on President Donald Trump's administration to adjust plans for creating a large-scale missile defense system called "Golden Dome," which was announced in May 2025.

According to the concept, the new system should protect the continental United States from a wide range of missile threats, including ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles. However, according to former US Army officer Alexander Vindman, the $175 billion allocated for this initiative may be "non-targeted," as the system is not designed to combat small drones actively used by Ukraine.

Conclusion

The attacks on June 1 showed the potential of inexpensive and mass drone solutions in modern conflicts. Experts warn that similar threats could emerge anywhere in the world, and NATO will need to urgently adapt its strategy for protecting both large bases and remote deployment points. Additional hearings in the US Congress and NATO Council meetings are expected in the near future, dedicated to developing a comprehensive approach to combating unmanned threats.