U.S. expects Russia’s full response to Ukraine drone attack is still to come

U.S. officials told Reuters this.

Russia’s missile and drone strike on Kyiv last Friday was likely just the beginning, according to American and Western sources. “It will be huge, vicious and unrelenting,” one senior Western diplomat said.

U.S. officials, speaking anonymously, said Russia’s response could include various air attacks — including drones, cruise missiles, and possibly ballistic missiles — and may target symbolic Ukrainian sites like government or intelligence buildings.

The attack is going to be "asymmetrical," one official said, suggesting the Kremlin won’t mirror Ukraine’s tactics.

Russia expert Michael Kofman said Moscow may target Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency or defense industry facilities. “Most likely, they will attempt to retaliate against (SBU) headquarters, or other regional intelligence administration buildings,” he noted. Still, he cautioned that Russia’s capacity to escalate further is limited: “In general, Russia's ability to substantially escalate strikes from what they are already doing - and attempting to do over the past month - is quite constrained.”

Ukraine’s drone operation, dubbed Spider’s Web, reportedly used 117 drones launched from inside Russian territory. U.S. assessments say up to 20 Russian warplanes were hit, with about 10 destroyed — contradicting Moscow’s claims that no aircraft were lost.

The attack, prepared over 18 months, has shaken Russia’s confidence, particularly since some of the damaged planes were capable of carrying nuclear weapons.