Inside 'Operation Cobweb': h]How Ukraine outsmarted Russian forces
Ukrainians, through operation "Cobweb," delivered a devastating blow to Russian strategic aviation. We present the behind-the-scenes details of an attack that will go down in history.
In a daring action carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), five Russian strategic bomber bases were targeted. These strategic locations are crucial for the Russians in attacking significant targets in Ukraine and, due to their extended range, operate from airfields beyond the reach of Ukrainian drones. For instance, the Belaya base in the Irkutsk region is over 4,000 kilometres away from Kharkiv.
This challenge did not deter the Ukrainians from employing an asymmetric approach that will be remembered as a successful intelligence operation, comparable to those conducted by the Israeli Mossad. The Ukrainians claim they destroyed over 40 aircraft, although, as of now, there are only two pieces of evidence illustrating the effects of the attack.
One piece of evidence is a drone recording during the attack on the Dealy airport near Olenegorsk, showing at least four Tu-95MS. The other is a satellite photo from the Belaya base in the Irkutsk region, showing hits on eight aircraft. These include at least four T-95MS, possibly three Tu-22M3, and one A-50. Confirmed losses from other airfields will likely accumulate over time.
Attack from within Russia — surprise is the key issue
Due to a lack of long-range weapons, Ukrainians must improvise by using asymmetric warfare methods. Widely used drones are not very suitable for attacks on airfields, as even light aircraft with attached bombs are slow, easy to detect, and shoot down. Moreover, the airfield staff can become aware of an impending attack up to an hour in advance.
This awareness provides plenty of time to evacuate or even tow aircraft to another location, which can save a disabled machine since these simple drones attack a pre-programmed point.
In the case of the Cobweb operation, Ukrainians used remotely controlled FPV drones smuggled near air bases in transport containers. Ukrainian agents then used these drones, with a range of several kilometres, to surprise the Russian forces completely.
Remotely controlled drones also allow real-time responses to unfolding situations and can, for instance, finish off a damaged aircraft or continuously adjust the attack to target the most valuable assets.
The drones used were primarily composed of a frame, rotors with motors, control electronics with antennas, batteries, a camera, and a combat payload. Most likely, these were anti-tank or fragmentation bomblets.
The attack was probably prepared for at least a few months, if not over a year, representing an evolution of the idea introduced in August 2023, when Ukrainians launched an attack on an airport in Kursk using cardboard PPDS drones deployed from within Russia.
