Ukraine's 'Spiderweb' operation cripples Russian air force
In just a few dozen minutes, the Russians lost approximately 41 aircraft that were used for significant attacks on Ukraine. The impressive "Spiderweb" operation, organized by the SBU, shocked Russian propagandists. "Today will be remembered as a dark day for Russian long-range aviation," propagandists write.
Much of the information provided by Russian media or government representatives is part of propaganda. Such reports are part of the information war waged by the Russian Federation.
The remarkable attack by Kyiv surprised everyone. On Sunday, June 1, Ukraine conducted an operation under the codename "Spiderweb." Key Russian military airfields were attacked. It was the largest such attack since the beginning of the Russian invasion. More than 40 aircraft were damaged, including the A-50 early warning aircraft and Tu-95 and Tu-22 M3 bombers. Losses are estimated at $7 billion CAD.
"It's a Russian Pearl Harbor"
Leading Kremlin propagandists exclaim: "It's a Russian Pearl Harbor."
"Because drones attacked from a minimal distance, there was no opportunity to evacuate the aircraft from under the attack or use defence systems like Pantsyr or S-300," wrote the author of the Fighterbomber channel. "I think the attack also surprised air defence units. Today's news is likely not going to be favourable. Today will be remembered as a dark day for Russian long-range aviation" we read.
"I don't even know how one could respond to this and with what. And yes, we don't have dozens of countries that could provide us with aircraft," wrote the former advisor to the governor of the Kursk region, blogger Roman Alekhine. "It's a Russian Pearl Harbor," he added.
"A new stage of the war. It was only a matter of time before FPV-drones started hitting our rear areas" said Komsomolskaya Pravda war correspondent Aleksandr Kots. "Now the truth must be told, even if it's bitter," he added.
"It's a weakening of our country's nuclear protection"
"The bombers were built during the times of the USSR and are an invaluable strategic resource," wrote the Romanov Light channel. "The modern command could only cover the fuselages with tires. They didn't even come up with the idea of hanging a fishing net, as operators do on the front," he added.
"Hostile sources write that at the Belya airfield, two Tu-160 aircraft might have been hit as well" assessed publicist Ruslan Ostashko. He added that together with the Tu-95, this makes at least nine damaged machines.
The propaganda channel Dva Majora writes: "It's a direct blow to the strategic balance of nuclear forces. It's a weakening of our country's nuclear protection."
The largest pro-Russian military channel Rybar noted that the Russian Ministry of Defence was once again unprepared for a quick response and remains silent: "Every time there is chaos, and Russia gets hit where it is weak, the ministry buries its head in the sand and doesn't react," we read.
Rybar reminds us that Tu-95 and Tu-22 have long been withdrawn from production, so there's nothing to replenish the losses. "This is, without a doubt, very serious damage to the strategic component, caused both by serious mistakes in the work of special services and by a careless approach to aircraft, which even after all the attacks stood in the open without cover," the author noted.
Zelensky triumphs
In the evening, the action was summarized on social media by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, who met with the head of Ukraine's SBU, Vasyl Maliuk.
"One year, six months, and nine days from the start of planning to successful execution. Our most extensive operation. Our people involved in preparing the operation were withdrawn from Russian territory on time," Volodymyr Zelensky informed.
Zelensky added that he instructed the Security Service of Ukraine to inform the public about the details and results of the operation that can be disclosed.
