02 June, 2025:
Ukraine Executes ‘Spider’s Web’ Drone Strikes on Russian Military Airbases, Destroying Over 40 Aircraft
Planned for over a year and a half, Ukraine launched massive drone attacks on multiple Russian military airbases, including one in Siberia nearly 4,000 km from the frontlines.
Under the covert operation code-named "Spider's web," Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) struck at least 41 aircraft used to "bomb Ukrainian cities", including Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers and the A-50 radar detection and command aircraft.
Over 100 drones were launched from modified shipping containers, which deployed pre-programmed vertical lift drones as they flew past Russian military airbases. The strikes targeted bombers previously used to attack Ukrainian positions with stand-off weapons like cruise missiles and bombs. Russian media has dubbed these attacks a ‘Pearl Harbour,’ drawing parallels to the 1941 surprise attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy on the US Pacific Fleet, an event that propelled the US into World War II.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the operation as “an absolutely brilliant result,” asserting that the Ukrainian efforts will “undoubtedly be in the history books.” He revealed that planning for the mission began 18 months ago and said that those involved “were withdrawn from Russian territory in time.”
“Today, a brilliant operation was carried out — on enemy territory, targeting only military objectives, specifically the equipment used to strike Ukraine. Russia suffered significant losses — entirely justified and deserved.”, President Zelensky posted this from his official X handle.
The “Spider’s web” operation was prepared for over a year and a half, the Ukrainian SBU source said, adding that it had required particularly complex logistics. Sources said specialised drones called FPV drones were smuggled into Russia, along with mobile wooden cabins. The cabins were carried by trucks with the drones hidden inside. The cabin roofs opened remotely – and then the drones took off, zoned in on the nearby bases to precisely mount the attacks.
The Russia-Ukraine war has ushered in a new era of drone warfare, with drones increasingly replacing traditional platforms, from manned fighter aircraft to small arms. Both Russia and Ukraine deploy tens of thousands of First Person View (FPV) drones and their advanced variants, including wire-guided FPV drones that are resistant to jamming, to form dense and nearly impenetrable drone defence networks.
