KYIV, UKRAINE – In a highly coordinated and audacious operation codenamed “Spiderweb,” Ukraine has launched a massive drone attack deep inside Russian territory, reportedly striking multiple military airbases and damaging a significant portion of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet. The unprecedented assault, which President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed as an “absolutely brilliant outcome,” marks a dramatic escalation in Kyiv’s ability to target high-value Russian military assets far behind the front lines.
Ukrainian security services (SBU) sources claim the operation, involving a staggering 117 drones, hit at least 41 Russian aircraft, including Tupolev Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, which are frequently used to launch missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. Also targeted was the critical A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft. While independent verification of the full extent of the damage remains ongoing, the SBU estimates the financial impact of the strikes to be a staggering $7 billion and claims to have disabled 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers.
The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed drone attacks across five regions – Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur – admitting that “several aircraft caught fire” at airbases in Murmansk and Irkutsk. However, Moscow downplayed the extent of the damage, stating that fires were extinguished and no casualties were reported, and that “participants” in the attacks had been detained.
What makes this operation particularly remarkable is the alleged method used. Ukrainian security sources revealed that the “Spiderweb” operation, planned for over a year and a half, involved smuggling FPV (First-Person View) drones deep into Russian territory. These drones were reportedly hidden inside “mobile wooden cabins” mounted on trucks. At the opportune moment, the roofs of these cabins were remotely opened, allowing the drones to launch and target the nearby airbases. This innovative approach allowed Ukraine to reach airfields thousands of kilometers from its border, including the Belaya airbase in Irkutsk (over 4,300 km from Ukraine) and Olenya airbase in Murmansk (around 1,800 km away).
“This is our longest-range operation,” President Zelensky stated in his nightly address, adding that the results “will undoubtedly be in history books.” Videos shared by the SBU purportedly show plumes of smoke billowing from burning aircraft at the targeted airbases.
The strikes come at a critical juncture, on the eve of new peace talks between Ukraine and Russia set to take place in Istanbul. Russia had just launched a record 472 drones at Ukraine overnight on Friday, underscoring the relentless nature of the aerial war.
For Ukraine, which has faced recent setbacks on the battlefield and ongoing Russian aerial bombardments, this strike carries significant symbolic weight. It demonstrates Kyiv’s continued ingenuity and increasing long-range strike capabilities, a vital counter to Russia’s numerical superiority. For Russia, the audacious attack exposes potential vulnerabilities in its air defense systems and the security of its vital strategic assets, even those located deep within its own territory.
As investigations continue and both sides assess the true impact of the “Spiderweb” operation, it is clear that Ukraine is pushing the boundaries of drone warfare, aiming to inflict tangible costs on Moscow far from the front lines and reshape the dynamics of the ongoing conflict.