Ukraine claims to have destroyed billions of Russian aircraft through a meticulously planned drone attack that struck deep inside Russian territory, destroying critical military aircraft used to attack Ukrainian cities. The attack reportedly destroyed 34% of Russia’s strategic bombers that carry cruise missiles used against Ukraine. Drones were smuggled into Russia and launched from within Russian territory, not from Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Deepest Strike into Russian Territory
In what appears to be Ukraine’s most ambitious military operation of the conflict, Ukrainian forces have struck Russian airbases thousands of kilometers from the front lines. The operation, code-named “Spider’s Web,” reportedly targeted strategic Russian bombers that have been used to launch missile attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure since the beginning of the conflict. According to Ukrainian officials, the operation was meticulously planned over a period of 18 months.
🔴 Ukraine destroyed Russian strategic bombers in a mass drone attack on airfields across Russia, sources have claimed
Follow the latest ⬇️https://t.co/qQaCnz1k0W pic.twitter.com/JX37FkPIz3
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) June 1, 2025
The Ukrainian SBU security service claims the attack destroyed 41 Russian military aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers and A-50 radar aircraft. These aircraft are critical components of Russia’s long-range strike capability against Ukraine. If confirmed, this would represent approximately 34% of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet capable of carrying cruise missiles, which have been regularly used to target Ukrainian cities.
There we have it.
Ukraine blowing up Russian strategic bombers with FPV drones on multiple airfields inside Russia.
– Olenya, Murmansk region
– Belaya pic.twitter.com/nR96OeAr4q— kim høvik (@kimhvik2) June 1, 2025
Complex Logistics and Execution
What makes this operation particularly notable is the complex logistics involved. According to reports, Ukraine did not launch these drones from Ukrainian territory. Instead, the drones were apparently smuggled into Russia and hidden in wooden structures on trucks before being deployed from locations near the targeted Russian airbases. This tactic allowed the drones to bypass Russia’s air defense systems, which are primarily configured to detect threats coming from across the border.
The attack targeted multiple airbases across Russia, including facilities in Murmansk in Russia’s far north and Irkutsk in eastern Siberia. These locations are thousands of kilometers from Ukrainian territory, making this Ukraine’s longest-range operation of the conflict so far. Such a deep strike demonstrates Ukraine’s expanding military capabilities despite being the smaller power in the conflict.
“Several aircraft caught fire,” Russia’s defense ministry confirmed while downplaying the extent of the damage and claiming they had “arrested” suspects involved in the attack.
Russian Acknowledgment and Damage Assessment
Russia’s defense ministry has acknowledged the attacks but has provided limited information on the extent of the damage. They confirmed fires at the targeted bases but reported no casualties. The ministry also stated that suspects believed to be involved in the operation were arrested. Russian military bloggers have been more forthcoming, with one prominent channel called Rybar describing the attack as a “very heavy blow” to Russian military capabilities.
“Very heavy blow,” admitted Rybar, a prominent Russian military blogger, highlighting the significance of the attack and vulnerabilities in Russian military intelligence.
Strategic and Symbolic Timing
The timing of these attacks appears strategically significant, coming on the eve of ceasefire talks scheduled to take place in Istanbul. By demonstrating their ability to strike deep inside Russian territory and target high-value military assets, Ukraine may be attempting to strengthen its negotiating position. The estimated $7 billion in damage to Russian military aircraft represents a substantial loss that could impact Russia’s ability to conduct air operations against Ukraine.
The attacks have also exposed vulnerabilities in Russian military intelligence and air defense systems. The ability of Ukrainian forces to smuggle drones deep into Russian territory and target high-security military installations raises serious questions about Russia’s internal security measures. As the conflict continues to evolve, both sides appear to be developing new tactics that expand the geographic scope of military operations beyond the traditional front lines.
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