On June 1, Ukraine launched a major drone attack deep inside Russia in an operation called Spider Web.
Operation Spiderweb: How Ukraine Targeted Russia’s Strategic Bomber Fleet. It was a daunting attack on Russia amid the ceasefire talks with United States as a key broker. Still, Ukraine chose to try its luck.
A total of 117 drones were used to strike five different regions in Russia: Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur. The attack was carefully planned for 18 months and was carried out under the leadership of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine used 117 low-cost FPV drones in the operation, hiding them inside wooden crates on the back of trucks. These drones were simple quadcopters, but they were able to carry heavy explosives. The attack was controlled remotely, possibly using the internet or satellite connections. Even though the drones were small and basic, they were powerful enough to cause serious damage.
According to Ukraine, at least 13 out of 41 Russian strategic bombers were destroyed in the attack. The planes that were hit included A-50 spy planes and Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160 bombers. These are important aircraft that can carry missiles and help with air attacks. Drone videos and satellite images confirmed that several of the planes were badly damaged or destroyed.
Spiderweb Attack on Russia
Russia has not admitted that any of its planes were damaged, but it did confirm that several of its airfields were attacked. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the strike Ukraine’s most far-reaching operation, saying it showed how far Ukrainian forces can now reach inside Russian territory.
Recent missile attacks on Ukraine were carried out using Russia’s Tu-95 bombers. Each of these planes can carry up to eight Kh-101 cruise missiles, and each missile has a 400-kilogram warhead, making them very dangerous. Ukraine says these bombers have been used to hit cities and cause serious damage.
Ukraine’s military intelligence also reported that Russia has only eight A-50 spy planes. These aircraft are important for spotting enemy missiles and helping Russia launch its own attacks. Because they are so few in number, any damage to them is a big loss for Russia.
Russia faced serious losses as a result of the Spiderweb operation, which cost estimated $7 billion. Despite the fact that the attack was large and well-planned, Russian news outlets either said very little or remained silent about it. It was viewed as a major and significant victory in Ukraine. Additionally, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, one of the targets was located directly adjacent to a structure that the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the nation’s primary security agency, uses.
