In a stunning display of ingenuity, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) unleashed “Operation Spider Web,” a covert drone attack on June 1, 2025, targeting Russian airbases
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In a stunning display of ingenuity, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) unleashed “Operation Spider Web,” a covert drone attack on June 1, 2025, targeting Russian airbases thousands of miles from the front lines. Dubbed a “history book” moment by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the strike hit over 40 strategic bombers, dealing a $7 billion blow to Moscow’s airpower. Here’s how Ukraine pulled off this audacious operation—and what it means for the Russia-Ukraine war.
On Sunday, June 1, 2025, Ukraine launched 117 first-person view (FPV) drones in a coordinated assault on five Russian airbases: Belaya (Irkutsk), Olenya (Murmansk), Dyagilevo (Ryazan), Ivanovo Severny (Ivanovo), and Ukrainka (Amur). The SBU claims the strikes damaged or destroyed 41 aircraft, including nuclear-capable Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160 bombers, plus an A-50 surveillance plane, critical for coordinating Russian airstrikes. Ukraine estimates the damage at $7 billion, though some sources suggest $2 billion.
Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed attacks on five regions, admitting “several aircraft caught fire” in Murmansk and Irkutsk but claiming strikes in Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur were repelled. Russian media downplayed the damage, while military bloggers called it a “black day” for aviation, likening it to “Russia’s Pearl Harbor.”
How Did Ukraine Do It?
The operation, planned for 18 months, was a logistical masterpiece:
Covert Smuggling: Ukrainian agents smuggled 117 FPV drones—cheap quadcopters costing just $1,200 each—into Russia, hidden in wooden cabins with remotely operated roofs mounted on trucks. Drivers, unaware of their cargo, parked near airbases, some as far as 4,300 km from Ukraine, like Belaya in Siberia.
Remote Execution: Each drone had a dedicated pilot, likely using satellite or internet links to bypass Russian jamming. At the right moment, roofs opened, and drones launched, striking planes on the tarmac. Videos show explosions and burning bombers, with one clip capturing drones rising from a truck near Belaya.
Strategic Timing: The attack hit on Russia’s Military Transport Aviation Day, catching Moscow off-guard. Zelenskyy boasted the SBU’s “nerve center” operated next to Russia’s FSB headquarters in one region, with agents safely evacuated before the strike.
BBC LIVE How Did Ukraine Do It?
The operation, planned for 18 months, was a logistical masterpiece:
Covert Smuggling: Ukrainian agents smuggled 117 FPV drones—cheap quadcopters costing just $1,200 each—into Russia, hidden in wooden cabins with remotely operated roofs mounted on trucks. Drivers, unaware of their cargo, parked near airbases, some as far as 4,300 km from Ukraine, like Belaya in Siberia.
Remote Execution: Each drone had a dedicated pilot, likely using satellite or internet links to bypass Russian jamming. At the right moment, roofs opened, and drones launched, striking planes on the tarmac. Videos show explosions and burning bombers, with one clip capturing drones rising from a truck near Belaya.
Strategic Timing: The attack hit on Russia’s Military Transport Aviation Day, catching Moscow off-guard. Zelenskyy boasted the SBU’s “nerve center” operated next to Russia’s FSB headquarters in one region, with agents safely evacuated before the strike.
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