Ukraine’s covert operation, codenamed “Spider Web,” has shocked the world as they managed to strike deep inside Russian territory and inflict significant damage on the Russian military. The operation, which reportedly lasted for a year and a half, was a carefully orchestrated plan carried out by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) under the direct supervision of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk.
Using first-person-view (FPV) drones hidden inside trucks, the SBU managed to target strategic Russian bombers located thousands of kilometers away from Ukraine. The drones were smuggled into Russia in advance, concealed under the roofs of wooden cabins mounted on trucks. When the time came for the attack, the roofs were remotely opened, releasing the drones to fly short distances to their targets.
The audacious attack resulted in the destruction or damage of over 40 military aircraft at four separate airbases in Russia. Ukrainian officials estimate the damage to be over $7 billion, dealing a significant blow to Moscow’s long-range strike capabilities. Bombers such as the TU-95, TU-22M3, and A-50 surveillance aircraft were reportedly among the assets destroyed in the operation.
One of the airbases targeted was the Belaya airbase in Irkutsk Oblast, located more than 4,000 kilometers from Ukraine. Videos obtained by news agencies show Russian aircraft engulfed in flames, with thick smoke rising above the tarmac. Other airbases reportedly targeted include Olenya in Murmansk Oblast, Ivanovo, and Diaghilev near Ryazan.
The success of Operation Spider Web has raised questions about Russia’s air defense capabilities and the vulnerability of its military infrastructure to drone attacks. The Ukrainian government has not officially commented on the operation, but the scale and precision of the attack have left many in awe of Ukraine’s military capabilities.
