New Delhi: Ukrainian drones struck multiple airbases deep inside Russian territory as part of a covert operation codenamed “Spider Web”, damaging or destroying more than 40 Russian military aircraft, according to reports citing Ukrainian intelligence sources. The long-range attacks—some reaching over 4,000 kilometre—targeted strategic bombers and early warning aircraft at facilities in Irkutsk, Murmansk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions.
The campaign, reportedly carried out by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), involved smuggling First-Person View (FPV) drones into Russia using civilian trucks and launching them from just outside airbase perimeters.
What a great day!
Ukraine’s Operation “Spiderweb” just changed warfare forever.
Over 40 Russian military aircraft -including 70% of their nuclear-armed Tu-95 fleet – were destroyed in under an hour!!
All via drones launched from inside Russia.
This was a message.#Ukraine… pic.twitter.com/TalHX2ugTJ
— union.of.contrary.things $MASTR (@contrarything) June 1, 2025
A game-changer in drone warfare
According to The Kyiv Independent and Reuters, the SBU’s strategy relied on the element of surprise, low-cost materials, and precise engineering. The drones—small, cheap, and often commercially available quadcopters—were reportedly launched just outside the perimeters of the targeted airfields after being concealed in plain sight.
At the heart of the operation was a combination of logistical ingenuity and strategic patience. Trucks carrying the drones drove thousands of kilometre undetected, parking near Russian airbases, including Belaya in Irkutsk Oblast, Olenya in Murmansk, Ivanovo, and Diaghilev near Ryazan. These sites house some of Russia’s most advanced aircraft, including the Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers and A-50 airborne early warning systems.
The drones were launched just metres from these bombers, maximising the probability of a direct hit. Videos posted on Russian and Ukrainian social media, though unverified, appear to show planes engulfed in flames, with thick smoke rising from runways in Siberia.
Why are Russians climbing into a truck full of drones? #SpiderWeb #russia pic.twitter.com/v5XwjzWikT
— Boris Alexander Beissner (@boris_beissner) June 1, 2025
Russia acknowledges strikes
Russia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that drone strikes occurred across five regions—Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur. It labelled the incidents as “terrorist attacks” but acknowledged that “several pieces of aviation equipment caught fire” due to FPV drones launched from nearby locations.
Local officials also confirmed the attacks. Irkutsk governor Igor Kobzev reported that drones were launched from a truck and urged calm. Murmansk governor Andrey Chibis acknowledged the presence of “enemy drones” without detailing the extent of the damage.
The operation’s cost-effectiveness also caught global attention. With individual drones potentially costing only a few hundred dollars, Ukraine managed to inflict what it estimates as over $2 billion in losses on Russia’s air fleet.
Zelenskyy hints at involvement
Although Ukrainian officials have not formally claimed responsibility, symbolic hints have emerged. Andriy Yermak, President Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, posted a single spider web emoji on social media—a cryptic nod to the operation’s codename.
A senior Ukrainian official told the Associated Press that Zelenskyy had been personally involved in supervising the operation, calling it the “most devastating drone assault” Ukraine has carried out to date.
Escalation before peace talks
The operation coincided with renewed peace talks in Istanbul, where Ukraine sent a delegation led by defence minister Rustem Umerov. Kyiv reiterated its demand for a “complete and unconditional ceasefire” and the return of prisoners and abducted children. Moscow has confirmed its participation but declined to make its peace terms public.
