The Ukrainians came up with a plan unprecedented in the history of warfare, everything was ready.

In late 2024, Ukrainian officials reportedly devised a high-risk strategy aimed at ending the war with Russia through a novel military operation involving autonomous drones equipped with artificial intelligence. According to two anonymous sources directly familiar with the plan, which had previously gone unreported, the proposal was presented to President Volodymyr Zelensky early this year. However, he ultimately halted the initiative in the final moment, citing concerns over potential civilian casualties and ethical implications. The proposed operation would have expanded ongoing Ukrainian strikes against Russian military bases, oil refineries, supply routes, and logistical hubs. In addition, it would have introduced waves of AI-guided drones targeting Moscow's airports, aiming to disrupt international air traffic into and out of the Russian capital. This approach, according to the sources, would represent a dramatic turning point in the conflict, using swarms of autonomous drones capable of independently identifying and striking targets without human pilots controlling their movements. Such systems have been tested in various countries, including the United States, but their legality under the laws of armed conflict has been heavily debated due to the potential for unintended harm to civilians. According to one source, Zelensky expressed serious reservations about the plan, fearing that the attack could be deemed piracy if the drones struck a civilian passenger aircraft in Moscow, particularly if passengers, airport staff, or crew members were harmed or injured during the assault. Despite these concerns, Zelensky allowed preparations for the attacks to continue for several months during spring and early summer, according to two sources. Officials behind the plan suggested ways to mitigate the risks of hitting unintended targets, such as warning civilian airlines to avoid Russian airports and evacuate their planes before the swarm of Ukrainian drones arrived. A spokesperson for Zelensky declined to comment on these reports, while another official from the presidential office denied the existence of a plan to launch swarms of AI-equipped drones against Moscow's airports. “These are complete nonsense,” the official told a U.S.-based publication, requesting not to be named. Ukraine has long sought to pressure the Kremlin into closing Russian airports, adding that its drone attacks on various targets in Russia have often achieved this goal temporarily. However, Ukraine lacks long-range weapons precise enough to hit Russian airports without creating disproportionate risks to civilians, according to the official. By mid-spring, the plan to achieve a more permanent closure of Moscow's airports had advanced significantly, receiving a codename, M&M’s, as a reference to the large number of small, inexpensive, and nearly identical drones required for the mission. To overcome Russian air defenses, the operation would have required sending up to 1,000 drones overnight toward Moscow's airports and surrounding areas, according to one of the sources familiar with the plan. “The idea is to close Moscow's airspace for civilian flights for a longer period,” one of the sources stated. Since the beginning of Russia's invasion in February 2022, civilian air traffic above Ukraine has been suspended. However, Russian airports have largely remained open, with millions of travelers using them for international travel this year. Due to Western sanctions, only a limited number of flights operate from Russian airports, but the potential disruption of this infrastructure could have had far-reaching consequences for both regional and global aviation networks. Zelensky's decision to halt the plan underscores the delicate balance between strategic military objectives and the imperative to minimize collateral damage. While Ukraine continues to explore innovative methods to gain leverage in negotiations, the rejection of this particular operation highlights the complex ethical and legal considerations that accompany modern warfare. The incident also reflects broader discussions within the international community regarding the use of autonomous weapon systems and their compliance with humanitarian principles. As the conflict enters its third year, the focus remains on finding sustainable solutions that can lead to a lasting peace. The rejection of this ambitious plan does not signal an end to efforts to find new approaches, but rather a reaffirmation of the need for careful deliberation and adherence to international norms.