Irony at play: Russian media deflects amid Irkutsk drone attack
Russian authorities are searching for 37-year-old Artiom Timofeyev from Donetsk, who is suspected of involvement in the drone attack on a military airfield in the Irkutsk region.
Many reports being circulated by Russian media and officials are likely not accurate. Such reports may be part of a disinformation or information warfare strategy by the Russian Federation.
Russian law enforcement is seeking 37-year-old Artiom Timofeyev from Donetsk, who is suspected of participating in the drone attack on the military airfield "Belaya" in the Irkutsk region.
The information about the search was posted by the city of Ust-Kut's administration, but the post was removed following media attention.
According to the telegram channel "Baza", Timofeyev, who owns four lorries, was allegedly involved in drone attacks on military airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ryazan, and Ivanovo regions.
The independent Russian portal Meduza notes that one of the lorry drivers testified that Timofeyev received an order from an entrepreneur in the Murmansk region to transport four prefab houses from Chelyabinsk to the Kola region.
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During the transport, the driver received phone instructions from an unknown person about where and when to stop. The final stop was the "Rosneft" fuel station near the military airfield in the Murmansk region, from where the drones were launched. Other drivers gave similar accounts.
Operation "Spiderweb"
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted a large-scale special operation "to destroy enemy bomber aircraft deep within Russian territory".
The operation required precise logistical planning. The SBU transported FPV drones to Russia, which were concealed in mobile wooden houses transported by lorries. At the appropriate moment, the roofs of the houses were remotely opened, allowing the drones to take off and attack Russian bombers. Ukrainian sources stress that those involved in the operation have long since returned to the country.
Operation "Spiderweb" targeted four key Russian air bases: Belaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo.
Strategic aircraft, including long-range bombers Tu-95 and Tu-22M3, as well as an A-50 early warning aircraft, were destroyed. The attack on the Belaya base in the Irkutsk region, over 4,020 kilometres from Ukraine, was the first instance of a Ukrainian drone appearing in this area.
