Ukraine has executed one of its most daring and ingenious operations since the start of the war: “Operation Spider Web”—an unprecedented attack, 18 months in the making, that saw over 100 drones strike key airbases deep inside Russian territory last Sunday.
The main targets were Russia’s long-range, nuclear-capable bombers. Explosions were reported across multiple time zones, from Murmansk beyond the Arctic Circle to the Amur region more than 8,000 kilometers from Ukraine, highlighting the operation’s vast scope.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed attacks in five regions: Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur. It claimed that damage to bombers occurred only in Murmansk and Irkutsk, while the remaining attacks were reportedly repelled.
Images released after the strike showed Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) chief, Vasyl Maliuk, examining a satellite map clearly marking Russian airbases. According to Maliuk, the drones were smuggled into Russia hidden inside wooden cabins mounted on trucks, concealed under remotely-operated retractable roofs.
The trucks, driven by unsuspecting drivers, were positioned near targeted airfields. Once in place, the drones were launched directly from the vehicles. Online videos show drones emerging from truck rooftops. One driver told Russian state media outlet Ria Novosti that he and others tried to stop the drones by throwing stones at them.
Reports from Russian Telegram channel Baza suggest that several drivers claimed they were hired to deliver wooden structures without knowing what they contained. After receiving further instructions via phone, they were shocked to witness drones launching from the trucks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who personally oversaw the operation, stated in a social media post that 117 drones were used, and that the mission took "one year, six months, and nine days" to prepare. He revealed that one of the attacked locations was adjacent to a Russian security agency office.
While Moscow reported several arrests, Zelensky confirmed that individuals who helped facilitate the operation had been safely extracted from Russian territory.
Authorities in the city of Ust-Kut, Irkutsk, initially named a 37-year-old Ukrainian suspect linked to the Belaya airbase drone strike—but the post was later deleted.
Images shared by the SBU showed dozens of small black drones stored inside wooden cabins in a warehouse, which Russian analysts identified as being in Chelyabinsk. UK-based drone expert Steve Wright described the devices as relatively simple quadcopters capable of carrying significant payloads. He highlighted the “extraordinary” aspect of smuggling and remotely operating them within Russia, likely using satellite or internet-based links.
Zelensky stated that each of the 117 drones had a dedicated pilot. Although Ukraine has not revealed their origin, the country has become highly proficient in drone manufacturing during the war, making it plausible that these devices were domestically produced.
The operation's objectives were clear. Ukraine claimed that 41 strategic bombers were hit and “at least” 13 destroyed. Russia has not confirmed aircraft losses, though satellite imagery from Capella Space shows at least four long-range bombers heavily damaged or destroyed at the Belaya base. These reportedly include Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160 models—all of which are no longer in production and therefore irreplaceable.
Reports also indicate that A-50 spy planes were targeted—vital assets for missile detection and launching Russian strikes. With Ukrainian intelligence estimating Russia has only eight A-50s, any loss could deal a serious blow to Moscow’s capabilities.
“We struck entirely legitimate targets—airfields and aircraft used to bomb our peaceful cities,” said SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk. Just a week earlier, Tu-95 bombers had launched Kh-101 cruise missiles on Ukraine, each carrying 400 kg warheads.
According to the SBU, “Operation Spider Web” is estimated to have cost Russia roughly $7 billion in damages. Russian state media avoided coverage, limiting reports to regional statements. By Monday, the story had vanished from national news bulletins.
In Ukraine, the operation was widely celebrated. One citizen hailed it as “titanic.”
“Of course, not everything can be disclosed yet,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram, “but these Ukrainian actions will undoubtedly be written into the history books.”
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