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On June 1, 2025, Ukraine executed its most audacious military operation to date—Operation Spiderweb—a meticulously planned drone assault deep within Russian territory. This unprecedented strike targeted five key airbases, resulting in the destruction or severe damage of 41 Russian military aircraft, including strategic bombers and surveillance planes. The operation not only showcased Ukraine’s innovative warfare tactics but also inflicted an estimated $7 billion in damages, significantly impairing Russia’s aerial capabilities.

Operation Overview

• Name: Operation Spiderweb
• Date: June 1, 2025
• Duration of Planning: Approximately 18 months
• Coordinated by: Security Service of Ukraine (SBU)
• Supervised by: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
• Execution Method: 117 first-person view (FPV) drones were covertly transported into Russia, concealed within modified wooden structures mounted on trucks. Once positioned near the targeted airbases, the drones were remotely activated, launching attacks on strategic aircraft.

Targeted Airbases and Damages

1. Belaya Air Base (Irkutsk Oblast):
   • Located over 4,300 km from Ukraine’s border, marking the longest-range Ukrainian drone strike to date.
   • Home to Tu-22M3 bombers; multiple aircraft were destroyed or damaged.
2. Dyagilevo Air Base (Ryazan Oblast):
   • Strategic base housing Tu-95 bombers.
   • Sustained significant damage, with several aircraft reported destroyed.
3. Ivanovo Severny Air Base (Ivanovo Oblast):
   • Key site for A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft.
   • Multiple A-50 planes were targeted and destroyed.
4. Olenya Air Base (Murmansk Oblast):
   • Located in the Arctic Circle, housing Tu-95MS bombers.
   • Several aircraft were destroyed, marking a significant blow to Russia’s strategic capabilities.
5. Ukrainka Air Base (Amur Oblast):
   • Hosts Tu-160 and Tu-95MS bombers.
   • Reports indicate multiple aircraft were damaged or destroyed.

Estimated Damages

• Total Aircraft Affected: 41
• Types of Aircraft:
  • Tu-22M3 bombers
  • Tu-95MS bombers
  • Tu-160 bombers
  • A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft
• Estimated Financial Impact: $7 billion
• Strategic Impact: Approximately 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers were rendered inoperative.