Ukraine's 'Operation Spiderweb' Inflicts Estimated $7 Billion Damage on Russian Strategic Air Fleet

Kyiv – Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) launched a large-scale, coordinated drone attack on June 1, 2025, targeting five Russian airbases deep within Russian territory. The operation, codenamed "Spiderweb," reportedly inflicted an estimated $7 billion in damage to Russia's strategic aviation, marking a significant escalation in drone warfare. Early, cryptic social media posts, such as "BULLET BULLET OPENING" by user d0nut2x, appeared to foreshadow the commencement of the audacious strikes.

The sophisticated operation involved 117 Ukrainian-made first-person view (FPV) drones, meticulously smuggled into Russia. These drones were concealed within wooden cabins mounted on trucks, which were then driven near the target airbases. Once in position, the cabins' roofs were remotely opened, allowing the drones to launch and proceed to their designated targets.

Ukrainian officials stated that the "Spiderweb" operation hit 41 Russian military aircraft, with between 13 and 20 confirmed destroyed. Among the high-value targets were Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, crucial for long-range missile strikes, and A-50 surveillance aircraft, vital for airborne early warning and control. The destruction or damage to these assets significantly impacts Russia's offensive and reconnaissance capabilities, as many of these aircraft are no longer in production and are difficult to replace.

The SBU's chief, Vasyl Maliuk, confirmed that the operation had been in preparation for 18 months, highlighting the extensive planning and logistical effort involved. The unprecedented geographical reach of the strikes, extending to airbases in Siberia over 4,000 kilometers from Ukraine, demonstrates Kyiv's evolving deep-strike capabilities. This strategic blow aims to disrupt Russia's military infrastructure and force a re-evaluation of its air defense posture across its vast territory.

Russian authorities acknowledged the drone attacks, confirming damage to aircraft at airbases in Murmansk and Irkutsk regions, though they reported fewer losses than Ukraine claimed. Moscow condemned the strikes as a "terrorist attack." The timing of the operation, just ahead of scheduled peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, also underscored Kyiv's intent to gain leverage and demonstrate its capacity for asymmetric retaliation.