Ukraine’s covert strike: Inside operation "Spiderweb"
In early June, the Security Service of Ukraine launched Operation "Spiderweb," a meticulously planned strike aimed at destroying high-value Russian bombers stationed at airbases deep inside the Russian Federation. This operation marked a bold escalation in Ukraine’s long-range capabilities. The significance of the mission has been underscored by a newly released video, published by the Ukrainian news agency Unian, which captures the opening moments of the operation and offers rare visual insight into the execution of one of Kyiv’s most daring military actions to date.
Operation "Spiderweb" stands out as a bold and meticulously coordinated mission carried out by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) with the objective of neutralizing Russian strategic bombers. According to the Ukrainian news agency Unian, the operation had been in the planning stages for more than a year and a half before being executed on June 1. Underscoring its strategic importance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky personally oversaw the mission’s execution, signaling the highest level of state involvement in what became one of the most significant Ukrainian strikes on Russian military assets to date.
Attack on Russian bases
As part of Operation "Spiderweb," the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) targeted four key Russian military airbases: Byelaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo. The coordinated strikes resulted in the destruction or damage of several high-value strategic aircraft, dealing a significant blow to Russia’s long-range aviation capabilities. Among the assets hit was the A-50 reconnaissance aircraft, a critical component of Russia’s early warning and airborne surveillance infrastructure.
The success of the operation hinged on meticulous and covert planning. To penetrate deep into Russian territory, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) smuggled FPV drones hidden inside mobile wooden huts. Once on location, the drones remained concealed beneath the structures’ roofs, which were mounted on transport trucks to ensure mobility and disguise. At the critical moment, the roofs were lifted, enabling the drones to launch and strike their designated targets with precision—demonstrating both ingenuity and tactical sophistication.
The Unian agency obtained a video showing how Operation "Spiderweb" began. The film features a truck that departed from a warehouse after being loaded with a container of drones and headed towards one of the airports. "This is exactly how Spiderweb began," commented an anonymous Unian source.
A painful blow to Russian aviation
The June 1 strike led to the confirmed loss of a Russian A-50 reconnaissance aircraft, a key element of the country’s airborne surveillance network. Satellite imagery from the Byelaya airbase further reveals that Ukrainian drones succeeded in destroying Tu-95MS strategic bombers—aircraft that are no longer in production. This makes the blow particularly severe, as the loss of such irreplaceable assets poses a serious challenge to Russia’s ability to maintain and rebuild its long-range aviation capabilities.
The Tu-95MS bombers, in service for over seven decades, remain a cornerstone of Russia’s strategic air fleet due to their impressive payload capacity and range. Capable of carrying up to 44,000 pounds of weaponry, these aircraft can be armed with Kh-101 cruise missiles—boasting a range of up to 2,800 miles—as well as conventional or nuclear bombs. With an operational range of approximately 6,200 miles, the Tu-95MS continues to play a pivotal role in long-range strike missions despite its age.
