Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) conducted a covert operation, codenamed "Spiderweb," using 117 drones to attack four Russian military airfields, severely damaging or destroying 34% of Russia's strategic bomber fleet. The attack, personally overseen by President Zelenskyy, aimed to degrade Russia's missile launch capabilities and boost Ukrainian morale.
What to know about Ukraine's attack targeting Russian warplanes
UkraineRussiaVolodymyr ZelenskyyRussia-Ukraine warVasyl MaliukRussia Ukraine warRussia governmentUkraine government
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) conducted a covert operation, codenamed "Spiderweb," using 117 drones to attack four Russian military airfields, severely damaging or destroying 34% of Russia's strategic bomber fleet. The attack, personally overseen by President Zelenskyy, aimed to degrade Russia's missile launch capabilities and boost Ukrainian morale.
Trending- 1 April 2022: Ukraine sank the Moskva
- 2 October 2022: Ukrainian attack damaged Kerch Bridge
- 3 July 2023: Kerch Bridge hit again
- 4 August 2024: Ukrainian forces launched military incursion into Russia’s Kursk region
- 5 April 2025: Russia claimed full reclamation of border territory (Ukraine insists troops still present)
- 6 Sunday (June 1, 2025): Ukraine launched 'Spiderweb' drone attack on Russian airfields
- 7 Monday (June 2, 2025): Round of direct peace talks in Istanbul
- 34% of Russia's strategic bomber fleet severely damaged or destroyed
- Estimated $7 billion in damages to Russian warplanes
- Reduced Russian ability to deliver missile barrages
- Morale boost for Ukraine
- Humiliating blow to the Kremlin
What: Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) conducted a covert operation, 'Spiderweb,' using 117 drones to attack four Russian military airfields, resulting in severe damage or destruction of 34% of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet (over 40 warplanes, including A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22M).
When: Sunday (prior to 2025-06-02); operation planned for over 18 months; 3-year-old war.
Where: Four Russian military airfields, including Belaya air base (Siberian region of Irkutsk), Murmansk region, Amur region, Ivanovo, and Ryazan. The operation was directed from an office next to an FSB office in Russia.
Why: To degrade Russia's ability to launch missile barrages against Ukraine, exact Russian losses, and boost Ukrainian morale amidst stalled peace talks and ongoing Russian attacks.
How: The SBU smuggled FPV drones into Russia, placed them in wooden containers, transported them by truck near airfields, and then launched them to strike strategic bombers.