Operation SpiderWeb: 7 Facts About The Ukrainian Drone Attack On Russia That Allegedly Damaged 41 Aircrafts With Estimated $7bn Losses (pics)
It was an attack of astonishing ingenuity – unprecedented, broad, and 18 months in the making.
On 1 June more than 100 Ukrainian drones struck air bases deep inside Russia, targeting nuclear-capable long-range bombers.
The scale of the operation dubbed “Spider Web” became clear almost as soon as it began, with explosions reported across several time zones all over Russia – as far north as Murmansk above the Arctic Circle, and as far east as the Amur region, over 8,000km from Ukraine.
The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed the attacks had occurred in five regions of Russia – Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur – but stated planes had been damaged only in Murmansk and Irkutsk, while in other locations the attacks had been repelled.
Operation Spiderweb appears to be real, based on multiple reports.
On June 1, 2025, Ukraine’s SBU conducted a drone attack on five Russian airbases, damaging around 41 aircraft, including strategic bombers, with an estimated $7 billion in losses.
The operation, planned for 18 months, used over 100 AI-guided drones launched from trucks. Sources like Wikipedia and The Independent confirm its execution, with satellite imagery showing damage.
The long-term impact is debated—while a tactical success, it may not shift the war’s course significantly, and there’s a risk of Russian retaliation escalating the conflict. The full strategic outcome remains uncertain.
However these are seven facts about Operation “Spiderweb” — a Ukrainian strike that will go down in history as one of the most successful special operations ever conducted.
By Roman Sheremeta
1. Ukrainian special forces spent 1.5 years preparing and planning the attack.
2. Special cargo containers were custom-designed (see photos) to conceal drones. The drones were hidden in wooden boxes mounted beneath the container roofs.
3. Unwitting russian drivers were hired to transport the trucks near russian air bases. The total distance to the targets was approximately 5,000 kilometers.
4. The roofs of the cargo trucks were remotely opened, releasing a swarm of drones that flew directly toward russia’s long-range bombers
5. After launching, the trailers self-destructed to avoid detection or recovery
6. The strikes hit four russian airfields (see photos), damaging or destroying over 40 russian aircraft, including A-50 surveillance planes, Tu-95s, and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers. The attack reportedly disabled 34% of russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers.
7. According to Ukraine’s Security Service, Operation Spiderweb inflicted an estimated $7 billion in damage on russia’s strategic aviation.
This is one of the greatest russian defeats in modern history — not just a blow, but a surgical strike against the core of russia’s long-range strike capabilities. The Ukrainian operation will be studied in military textbooks for decades to come.
