Ukrainian forces executed a series of unprecedented drone attacks on Russian airbases in early June 2025, prompting Moscow to relocate a significant portion of its strategic bomber fleet to more distant locations. These coordinated strikes, dubbed "Operation Spiderweb," demonstrated Ukraine's advanced long-range capabilities and inflicted considerable damage on Russia's air assets. The attacks targeted multiple airfields deep within Russian territory, including Belaya in the Irkutsk region, over 4,000 kilometers from Ukraine.
The meticulously planned operation, which reportedly took 18 months to prepare, involved smuggling drones into Russia within mobile wooden cabins on trucks, then launching them remotely near the airbases. Ukrainian officials stated that 117 drones were used in the assault, claiming to have hit 41 aircraft, including Tupolev Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160 strategic bombers, as well as A-50 early warning aircraft. While Russia downplayed the extent of the damage, satellite imagery and open-source intelligence confirmed the destruction or severe damage of at least 10 to 11 strategic bombers.
In response to the successful Ukrainian strikes, Russia has begun dispersing its remaining strategic bombers to airbases further from the front lines, including remote sites such as Anadyr on the Chukotka Peninsula, as well as bases in Tatarstan, Amur, Saratov, and Mozdok. This relocation effort, spanning thousands of miles, highlights Russia's concern over the vulnerability of its high-value aircraft to future drone assaults. The move is expected to complicate Russia's long-range strike operations due to increased logistical challenges and longer flight times.
The effectiveness of these Ukrainian drone operations underscores a significant shift in the conflict, showcasing Ukraine's innovative asymmetric warfare capabilities. The loss of these strategic bombers is particularly impactful for Russia, as many of these aircraft types are no longer in production, making their replacement a lengthy and difficult process. > "Ukrainian drones are so powerful that Russia is being forced to launch missiles at Ukraine from halfway around the world just to avoid having their ancient bombers blown up on the tarmac," stated Noah Smith in a recent tweet, encapsulating the strategic pressure now faced by the Russian military.