On June 1, 2025, Ukraine executed a landmark covert operation deep within Russian territory, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. The mission was code named “Operation Spider’s Web,” the mision involved the development of 117 first-person-view (FPV) drones launched from concealed positions within Russia. These drones targeted five key military airbases across cast distances.
The operation was planned over 18 months. It was orchestrated by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) under the direct supervision of Preisdent Volodymyr Zelenskyy, The Drones were ingeniously hiddden beneath the roofs of wooden cabins mounted on trucks. The tucks were smuggledinto Russia and positioned near the targeted airfields. Upon activation, the roofs were remotely opened, allowing the drones to launch and strike their designated targets.
The Five targeted airbases included Belaya Irkutsk Oblast, Dyagilevo in Ryazan Oblast, Ivanovo Severny in Ivanovo Oblast, Olenya in Murmansk Oblast, and Ukrainka in Amur Oblast. These locations span five Russian regions and time zones. Some were situated over 2,500 kilometers from the Ukranian borders. Ukranian officials reported that the destruction or severe damage of over 40 Russian miliatary aircraf including strategic bombers the Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and the A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft.
“The Kyiv regime staged a terror attack with the use of FPV drones on airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur Regions. All terror attacks on military airfields in the Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur Regions were repelled. No casualties were reported either among servicemen or civilians. Some of those involved in the terror attacks were detained,” Russia’s defence ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
It wsa confiremd that at the belaya airbase, including the destruction of multiple Tu-22M3 and Tu-95 bombers were attacked. The Russian Ministry of Defense acknowledged the attacks and labeled then as ‘terrorist acts” it orchestrated by the Kyiv regime. While confirming incidents at the Olenya and Belaya airbases, Russian authorities claimed that attacks on other regions were repelled without casualties. Some individuals allegedly involved in facilitating the attacks were detained for questioning.
Operation Spider’s Web represents a significant shift in Ukraine’s military capabilities, demonstrating its ability to conduct long-range, precision strikes deep within Russian territory. The operation not only inflicted substantial material losses but also delivered a psychological blow to Russian military confidence, challenging the perceived invulnerability of its strategic assets.
Ukraine’s SBU security service has claimed that it has hit Russian military planes worth a combined $7 billion in a wave of drone strikes. However, Russia has not confired the claim so far. SBU earlier claimed that coordinated attacks hit 41 aircraft used to “bomb Ukrainian cities”, claiming damge to Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers and the A-50 radar detection and command aircraft.
Russia’s defense ministry also confirmed that “several aircraft coaught fire” following a drone attack at bases in the regions of Murmansk and Irktsk. This is located in the Russian Arctic and eastern Siberia. The fires were contained, the ministry said that they caused no casualties. Russia said it had arrested several suspects. This includes the driver of a truck form which a drone had taken off.
But Zelensky said people involved in preparing that attacks “extracted from Russian teritory in time”.
The timing of the opertaion is important to note, The attack occured just before the peacetalks which were schedule with Istanbul. This adds up a compledimnesion to diplomatic efforts. Ukriane ha expressed a commitemht to dialogue, itmainain that any negogiations muct be predicted ona full ceasefire and cessation of Russia aggression.
In the latest updates, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his US Counterpart Marco Rubio spoke by telephone Sunday about “several initiatives aimed at a political solution to the Ukraine crisis.”
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