Fedorov Wanted to Swarm Moscow’s Airports With 1,000 AI Drones episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 21, 2026 · 25 MIN

Fedorov Wanted to Swarm Moscow’s Airports With 1,000 AI Drones

from Professor Gerdes Explains · host Professor Gerdes

Ukraine reportedly had a plan to send 1,000 autonomous drones toward Moscow’s airports in a single night—not primarily to destroy them, but to isolate Putin’s elite and force the war into their lives. Zelensky allowed preparations to continue, but one catastrophic risk prevented final approval. Then Fedorov was fired—and the operation stopped. Ukraine reportedly developed Operation M&Ms to overwhelm Russian air defenses and force prolonged closures of Moscow’s airports using as many as 1,000 autonomously guided drones. The strategy targeted a critical pressure point: the officials, oligarchs, and wealthy Putin loyalists who still depend on international air travel. I examine why Zelensky withheld final approval, how Fedorov’s dismissal affected the operation, Ukraine’s effort to secure Starlink access for strikes inside Russia, its growing air-defense problem, deteriorating Russian public sentiment, European weapons production, Moscow’s mobilization denials, and what America is learning from Ukraine’s drone warfare. 0:00 Fedorov’s 1,000-Drone Plan for Moscow 2:26 Fedorov’s New Mission With Elon Musk 4:03 Ukraine Resets Its Defense Priorities 7:03 Why Ukrainian Democracy Threatens Putin 8:50 Ukrainian Weapons Move Onto NATO Soil 11:49 Putin’s Strange Walk Through an Empty Moscow 13:23 Russians Believe the Worst Is Still Ahead 16:16 Russia Recruits Teenagers and North Koreans 18:30 America’s Patriot and Drone Problem 21:11 How Putin Benefits From a Wider War #Ukraine #Russia #Fedorov #DroneWarfare #Moscow Facts over noise. Context over headlines. Truth over talking points. Principle over partisanship. Fundraisers video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMTs6amkGUg and Here is the direct link to the Ukraine Support Bridge: https://ukrainesupportbridge.com/ - Ukrainian Refugee M's Room and Board is covered for this year. It is not for the rest of her time at CSU. I will be pushing on the other fundraisers for now, but if you still wish to give to make that whole (Aprox 48K total), here is the direct link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-ms-journey-at-charleston-southern-university?attribution_id=sl:2708fb35-6c96-49b9-a5f9-6b7567483de6&lang=en_US&ts=1786462653&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp30-treatment-3&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link ***** To support me as as I provide Ukraine war context: ***** Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ProfessorGerdesExplains Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/professorgerdes Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/professorgerdes YouTube Channel Membership: https://www.youtube.com/@Professor-Gerdes/membership 🇺🇸 Contact the White House to express your support for Ukraine https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ *****IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE DIRECT AID TO UKRAINE: ***** 🇺🇦 I have partnered with Greg Terry for all donations to Ukraine. He has raised and delivered more than a quarter of a million dollars of aid to date. To directly support this effort of delivering necessary provisions to the front lines, click on these links (and then watch him give your donations to soldiers on the front lines on his channel): https://www.youtube.com/@GregTerryExperience Amazon Shopping List USA/North America (Shop and send to UKRAINE AID c/o Bethel Life's Gift Registry Address) https://a.co/iodWsUK Amazon Shopping List for EU/UK https://www.amazon.de/hz/wishlist/ls/... Direct Link for Financial Giving via our 501(c)(3) Tax-Deductible in the USA https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html Link for Greg's 501(c)(3) EIN Information https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html 🇺🇸 Alternatively, you may choose to donate to Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/ukraine-response/?utm_source=FY22UkraineResponseVanityURL&utm_medium=direct&utm_campaign=m_YUKR-22L3&utm_content=Ukraine-Response-Redirect%20%20 🇺🇦 If you wish to support the Ukrainian Army, give directly to United 24. Follow this link: https://u24.gov.ua/ ***BUY SOMETHING TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE *** 🇺🇦 If you purchase from Saint Javelin with my link below, a cut of the proceeds will go directly to humanitarian aid for soldiers (bandages, tourniquets, etc.). I don't get the revenue. It goes to buy medical supplies from UnitewithUkraine.com. Use this link: https://www.saintjavelin.com/en-us?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Gerdes 🇺🇦 If you cannot give or buy, you can like, share, and pray for the people of Ukraine. 🇺🇸 Please leave comments and tell me how I can help you gain more perspective. You can contact me @Dr_Gerdes on Twitter or email [email protected] #UKRAINE #UKRAINERUSSIAWAR #UKRAINEWAR

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 21, 2026

Embed this episode

Ready to play

Fedorov Wanted to Swarm Moscow’s Airports With 1,000 AI Drones

0:00 25:02

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Professor Gerdes Explains?

This episode is 25 minutes long.

When was this Professor Gerdes Explains episode published?

This episode was published on August 21, 2026.

Can I download this Professor Gerdes Explains episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!