Dr. Youssef’s scenario materializes: Russia launches massive missile strikes on Ukrainian military sites
On July 21, 2025, Russia launched a major attack on Ukraine, targeting key military and vital sites. This scenario was predicted by Dr. Mohammad Walid Youssef, the president of the International Center for Geopolitical and Economic Research, on June 4, 2025. He suggested that Russia would initiate a fierce military campaign against Ukraine to demonstrate that its strategic system remained intact and to restore its historic prestige in the eyes of its opponents.
Ukrainian authorities announced on July 21, 2025, that Russia attacked using cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, drones, and powerful hypersonic missiles that are hard to intercept.[i]
Local Ukrainian sources reported that the attack targeted military installations, airfields, energy infrastructure, and training centers for Ukrainian forces, using Iskander and Kinzhal missiles.
In an article published on June 4, 2025, titled “Operation Spiderweb: Putin’s Snake in the Grass,” Dr. Youssef stated that a traditional analysis of Ukraine’s attack on Russia would involve Russia launching a rapid military response using various missile systems. These include Kalibr/NK (3M-54) missiles—similar to the U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles—from ships and submarines in the Caspian Sea, as well as Iskander-M and Iskander-SS missiles, Oreshnik systems, and hypersonic weapons such as Avangard and Kinzhal. Additionally, TU-160 and TU-95 strategic bombers would be employed to demonstrate that Russia’s strategic capabilities remain intact, calming fears, restoring confidence among the Russian population stunned by the breach, and maintaining the prestige of the Russian military among both adversaries and allies.
He stated that “the classical analysis demands that the Russian military attack be decisive, whether conventional or tactical nuclear, dismantling command, control, and communication hubs; the Ukrainian army’s General Staff; the Ministry of Defense; the presidential headquarters; and the Ukrainian military intelligence responsible for the operation.”
Local Ukrainian sources confirmed that the Russian attack targeted defense facilities and infrastructure, including the Artem military plant (which specializes in producing air-launched missiles and equipment for the air force), as well as Zhuliany military airport, where aircraft, military equipment, and depots containing Western aid were destroyed.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the strikes led to the destruction of three Patriot launchers, an AN/MPQ-65 radar station, the interception of several U.S. HIMARS rockets, and the destruction of 397 drones.
[i] “Russia launches a major aerial attack on Kyiv hours before high-level talks on weapons support for Ukraine,” https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/russia-launches-a-major-aerial-attack-on-kyiv-hours-before-high-level-talks-on-weapons-support-for-ukraine