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Operation Spider's Web

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"Operation Spider Web" redirects here. For the military operation in the Iraq War, see List of coalition military operations of the Iraq War § 2005.

Operation Spider's Web
Part of the attacks in Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Operation Spider's Web is located in Russia
Olenya air base
Olenya air base
Ivanovo air base
Ivanovo air base
Belaya air base
Belaya air base
Dyagilevo air base
Dyagilevo air base
Ukrainka air base
Ukrainka air base
Location of the airbases targeted inside Russia
Location
Olenya, Dyagilevo, Ivanovo, Belaya, and Ukrainka airbases, Russia
TargetRussian Air Force
Date1 June 2025 (2025-06-01)
Executed bySecurity Service of Ukraine
Outcome41 Russian military aircraft hit (per SBU)
20 hit, 10 destroyed (per US)[1]

Operation Spider's Web (Ukrainian: Операція «Павутина», romanized: Operatsija "Pavutyna") was a covert drone attack carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) deep inside Russia on 1 June 2025, during the Russo-Ukrainian War. The coordinated strikes targeted the Russian Air Force's Long-Range Aviation assets at five air bases—Belaya, Dyagilevo, Ivanovo Severny, Olenya, and Ukrainka—using drones concealed in and launched from trucks on Russian territory.

It was the largest drone attack on Russian air bases up to that point in the war, employing 117 drones that, according to Ukrainian officials, damaged over 40 aircraft. Russia confirmed that the attack took place. The operation was notable for its unprecedented geographical reach—spanning five oblasts across five time zones[2]—particularly the strike on Belaya Air Base in Eastern Siberia, where damage was confirmed 4,300 km (2,700 mi) from Ukraine.[3] According to two US officials speaking to Reuters, about 20 military aircraft were hit in the attack, ten of which were destroyed.[1]

Preparation

SBU head Vasyl Malyuk viewing satellite images of Russian military airfields (clockwise: Olenya, Ivanovo Severny, Ukrainka, Belaya, and Dyagilevo) and photos of strategic bombers Tu-95MS (left) and Tu-22M3 (right). The X's mark their most vulnerable areas.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that it took 18 months and 9 days from the start of planning to execution of the operation.[4] American and Ukrainian sources say that the United States was not informed in advance about the attacks.[5][6] According to Ukrainian sources, the plan for the "extremely complex" operation[7] was implemented by the SBU head Vasyl Malyuk and his staff, and progress was personally supervised by Zelenskyy.[8]

The drones, of domestic make, were simple "Osa" brand quadcopters (Ukrainian for "wasp"), each with a payload of just over 7 pounds (3.2 kg).[9] While in transport to Russia, approximately 36 were transferred into the removable roofs of wooden containers built to resemble regular mobile wooden cabins, which are routinely transported on flatbed trucks without tarpaulin,[6][10] a critical detail for the launch procedure. The Wall Street Journal later specified that more than 100 quadcopters were smuggled in parts into and assembled in Russia, and only noted "roofs of the containers".[9] The roofs of these containers were opened remotely and the drones were flown by their operators to their targets;[11][7] the drones of one such were attacked by shocked onlookers with stones and small arms fire, the only direct action taken against them.[9]

The drones were controlled using open source software ArduPilot, which supports navigation via dead reckoning.[12] Zelenskyy said that each drone had its own pilot to launch and command it remotely.[13] One analyst explained that the drones were operated via dead reckoning without the need for satellite navigation, making them impervious to jamming of such navigation signals. The analyst suggested that the drones were using SIM cards for digital communication over local mobile telephone networks, allowing control by a pilot far away and supporting high-resolution video.

Ukrainian sources said that the agents who prepared the operation on Russian territory were evacuated before the attacks began.[14]

Strikes

Burning Tu-95s at one of the attacked bases

As many as 117 first-person view (FPV)[15] Ukrainian drones targeted five Russian airbases: Belaya, Dyagilevo, Ivanovo Severny, Olenya,[16] and Ukrainka.[17][18] The SBU claims to have hit more than 40 Russian military aircraft, including Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22M strategic bombers, and A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft.[19] One drone's footage showed it landing on a Tu-95 bomber's wing close to the fuel tanks; that of others soon followed.[20][21] The drones attacked with very high precision; each pilot, working from Ukraine, aimed at vulnerable points such as fuel tanks in the wings.[22] Images appear to show that some attacked aircraft were loaded with cruise missiles; the large fireballs also imply that the tanks were full, suggesting that the aircraft were prepared to conduct strikes.[23]

Immediately following the attacks Russian officials announced a state of emergency at Engels and Morozovsk air bases.[24] President Zelenskyy said that an 'office' for the operation was located near an office of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), and that 34% of Russia's strategic cruise missile carriers stationed at airbases had been hit.[16]

Olenya

After earlier media reports about the mass deployment of strategic aviation aircraft to the Olenya air base, south of Murmansk,[25] the airbase was attacked using FPV drones, destroying or damaging several strategic aircraft.[26] Russian media reported the attack at Olenya but said that air defences were working.[16] Residents of Olenegorsk reported explosions and fire with a video of the aftermath being later published.[27] The attack on Olenya was carried out from a truck at a gas station. There were at least 10 explosions.[28] The authorities forbade the public from entering or leaving Olenegorsk. Nuclear-capable Tu-95 bombers were among the aircraft based at the air base.[27][29] According to the OSINT project AviVector, as of May 26, two Tu-95MSs, three Tu-160s, and two Su-34s were based at the airbase.[30]

Belaya

An attack was carried out on the Belaya air base, in Irkutsk Oblast, confirmed by local residents and governor Igor Kobzev, who said that there was a "drop on an old building" in Novomaltinsk [ru]. As at Olenya, the drones were launched from trucks. This was the first Ukrainian strike in Siberia during the war. The 200th Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Brest Red Banner Regiment, armed with Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, is stationed at the airbase.[29][27] The governor showed footage of a plume of smoke.[31] According to the OSINT project AviVector, the day before the attack there were 52 strategic aircraft (35 Tu-22M3 bombers, 6 Tu-95MS bombers, and 7 Tu-160 bombers), 30 MiG-31 fighters, and 8 auxiliary and transport aircraft at the airbase.[30]

On 2 June, OSINT analysis of commercial satellite photos confirmed three destroyed Tu-95 bombers, one possibly damaged Tu-95, a destroyed Tu-22M3 bomber,[32] and three possibly destroyed Tu-22M3 bombers.[18][33]

Dyagilevo

Attacks were reported on the Dyagilevo airfield near Ryazan.[29][27] The local governor confirmed the attack and stated that a fragment of a drone that had been shot down damaged the roof of a residential building, with no injuries.[27] At least seven explosions were reported.[34] The Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 bombers based there[27] were not hit; only grass was burnt.[9]

Ivanovo Severny

An attack was reported on the Ivanovo Severny air base near Ivanovo,[29][27] but local authorities did not report the attack.[27] The Ivanovo base was previously struck on 23 May 2025.[35] According to The Moscow Times, the A-50 was likely hit here.[27] On 3 June, The Daily Telegraph reported to have viewed a three-minute long video from the strike at Ivanovo Severny where several Tupolev bombers were burning after being struck by drones; the radar domes of two A-50s were also struck.[36]

Ukrainka

The attack on the Ukrainka air base (near Seryshevo in Amur Oblast) failed when the truck carrying the drones caught fire and exploded.[17][37][15]

Aftermath

Ukrainian officials said that the strikes damaged one-third of Russia's strategic cruise missile carriers, estimated to be worth US$7 billion,[38] with $2000 drones.[9] The Institute for the Study of War noted in its initial analysis that Russia's capacity to launch long-range missiles and drones into Ukraine may have been at least temporarily constrained, and that some of the older strategic aircraft hit could not be replaced as they were no longer in production.[15] These include the Tupolev family of Cold War strategic nuclear bombers, hence severely degrading one leg of Russia's nuclear triad capability. The Wall Street Journal suggested that the failure of intelligence to forestall the attacks could increase Putin's paranoia and lead to purges in Russia's domestic intelligence services.[39] Some commentators and Russian military bloggers called the event Russia's Pearl Harbor.[40]

The Russian Ministry of Defence referred to the operation as a "terrorist attack",[41] noting attacks on air bases in five regions of Russia but claiming that the attacks had been repelled in three of the regions.[5] It confirmed damage to aircraft at the Olenya and Belaya air bases.[2]

TASS reported that a truck driver alleged to be involved in the attack was to be questioned by police.[42] The Russian defence ministry said that there were no casualties in the attacks they admitted, in the regions of Murmansk and Irkutsk, and that several "participants" had been arrested, although Zelenskyy said that all operatives had safely been withdrawn from Russia.[13][10] The BBC, citing unverified reports on Russian Telegram channel Baza, known for its links to the Russian security services, said that the drivers of the drone trucks all told similar stories of innocently delivering purported wooden cabins, receiving instructions on where to park the trucks by mobile phone. One driver interviewed by Russian state news agency Ria Novosti said he and other drivers were surprised by the emerging drones, and tried to knock them down by throwing stones.[13]

Former US National Security Advisor Mike Flynn said, that an attack affecting nuclear weapon capability without notification was making Ukraine and the US "co-belligerents flying blind" rather than allies, and pointed out that similar attacks can be carried out on any nuclear power, due to treaty obligations to leave nuclear-capable aircraft, according to Flynn, in "full view".[43]

An article published by Russia's Pravda.ru pointed out that attacks on nuclear-capable aircraft could undermine the effectiveness of Russia's nuclear forces, and "According to the 'Basic Principles of the State Policy of the Russian Federation on Nuclear Deterrence,' such actions fall under conditions that may justify the use of nuclear weapons".[44]

On June 4 President Trump initiated a long call with President Putin, dealing mainly with the attack. "I just finished speaking, by telephone, with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia," Mr. Trump wrote. "The call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes. We discussed the attack on Russia's docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides.." [45]

Analysis

According to the Financial Times, the damaged and destroyed aircraft made up around 20% of Russia’s operational long-range aviation fleet. Many of the aircraft types affected, such as the Tu-95 and Tu-22M3, have not been produced since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, making them impossible to replace and exceptionally difficult to repair. According to military expert William Alberque, replenishing these losses could take years or even decades. Alberque added that the attacks would force Russia to disperse its bomber fleet across multiple airbases, reducing its ability to carry out large-scale strikes aimed at overwhelming Ukrainian air defences.[46]

Wall Street Journal columnist Bernard-Henri Lévy compared the operation to Israel's pager attacks on Hezbollah fighters, describing it as one of the most ingenious military operations in history, one that would be studied for ages. He further stated that the operation delivered one of the most significant blows to Russia during its invasion of Ukraine, alongside the 2022 sinking of the Moskva warship and attack on the Crimean bridge, retreat of the Russian Black Sea fleet to Novorossiysk due to vulnerability to Ukrainian attack, and the 2024 Kursk offensive.[47]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Stewart, Phil; Ali, Idrees (5 June 2025). "Ukraine hit fewer Russian planes than it estimated, US officials say". Reuters. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  2. ^ a b Varenikova, Maria; Kuznietsova, Anastasia; Vasilyeva, Nataliya (1 June 2025). "Ukraine Drone Strike Targets Russian Air Bases in Large-Scale Attack". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Ukrainian drones target Russian airbases in unprecedented operation". Al Jazeera. 1 June 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  4. ^ Vakulina, Sasha (1 June 2025). "'Operation Spiderweb': How Ukraine destroyed over a third of Russian bombers". Euronews. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  5. ^ a b Ravid, Barak (1 June 2025). "Ukraine launches massive drone strike on air bases deep inside Russia". Axios. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  6. ^ a b Jacobs, Jennifer (1 June 2025). "Ukraine claims drone attack hit 40 Russian bombers as talks set to resume in Turkey". CBS News. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  7. ^ a b Kapustianska, Ivanna (1 June 2025). FPV сховали під дахи мобільних будиночків: деталі про історичну операцію СБУ 'Павутина' [FPV hidden under the roofs of mobile homes: details about the historical SBU operation 'Spider's Web']. LB.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Deadly 'Spiderweb': How Ukraine destroyed 40 Russian jets in historic behind-the-lines op". RBC-Ukraine. 1 June 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d e Marson, James; Lytvynenko, Jane; Smith, Brenna T.; Bosak, Serhii (3 June 2025). "Inside the Ukrainian Drone Operation That Devastated Russia's Bomber Fleet". Wall Street Journal.
  10. ^ a b Mazhulin, Artem; Holmes, Oliver; Swan, Lucy; Boulinier, Laure; Hecimovic, Arnel (2 June 2025). "Operation Spiderweb: a visual guide to Ukraine's destruction of Russian aircraft". The Guardian.
  11. ^ Спецоперацію «Павутина» готували понад півтора року – джерело [Special Operation Spider's Web was prepared for over a year and a half—source]. Ukrinform (in Ukrainian). 1 June 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  12. ^ Hiltscher, Johannes (3 June 2025). "Die Software hinter Operation Spinnennetz" [The software behind Operation Spiderweb]. Golem.de (in German). Retrieved 3 June 2025. ... Berichten zufolge [soll] das russische Mobilfunknetz genutzt worden sein ... Auch eine grobe Positionierung über das Mobilfunknetz oder A-GPS würde bereits ausreichen. Kennt die Drohne einmal ihre Position, kann sie allein anhand anderer Sensordaten weiterfliegen – Unterstützung für sogenanntes Dead Reckoning bringt Ardupilot fertig mit. [.. the Russian mobile network is reported to have been used ... Even rough positioning via the cellular network or A-GPS would be sufficient. Once the drone knows its position, it can continue flying based solely on other sensor data – Ardupilot comes with built-in support for what is called dead reckoning.]
  13. ^ a b c Gozzi, Laura (2 June 2025). "BBC Verify: How Ukraine carried out daring 'Spider Web' attack on Russian bombers". BBC News.
  14. ^ Знищення 41 літака стратегічної авіації РФ. Як готували спецоперацію 'Павутина' [The destruction of 41 Russian strategic aircraft. How the special operation 'Web' was prepared] (in Ukrainian). Texty.org.ua. 1 June 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  15. ^ a b c Gibson, Olivia; Harvey, Anna; Novikov, Daria; Harward, Christina; Stepanenko, Kateryna (1 June 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 1, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  16. ^ a b c Adams, Paul; Lukiv, Jaroslav (1 June 2025). "Ukraine drones strike bombers during major attack in Russia". BBC. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  17. ^ a b Zoria, Yuri (2 June 2025). "Trojan truck op: Kyiv destroys '34%' of Russia's strategic bomber fleet within hours with truck-launched FPV drones". Euromaidan Press. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  18. ^ a b Orlova, Alisa; Zakharchenko, Kateryna (1 June 2025). "'Spiderweb' Strikes Cripple 34% of Russian Bomber Fleet in $7 Billion Blow, SBU Confirms". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  19. ^ "Ukraine reportedly strikes down over 40 Russian strategic bombers". Euronews. 1 June 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  20. ^ Andrews, Natalie. "Russia Plans to Respond to Drone Attack, Trump Says After Call With Putin". WSJ.
  21. ^ "BBC Verify Live: New satellite images show damaged Russian bombers from Ukraine drone attack". BBC News.
  22. ^ Adams, Paul (4 June 2025). "Are the surprise airfield attacks a turning point for Ukraine?". BBC News.
  23. ^ Brown, Paul; Spencer, Thomas (4 June 2025). "Satellite images show Russian bombers destroyed in Ukraine attack". BBC News.
  24. ^ Kostenko, Viktor (1 June 2025). Ще три російські військові аеродроми під дроновою атакою [Three more Russian military air fields are under drone attack]. dsnews.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  25. ^ Borisov, Maksim (31 May 2025). "Россия перебросила 40 бомбардировщиков Ту-22М3 и около 20% всех Ту-95МС на новый аэродром" [Russia has moved 40 Tu-22M3 bombers and about 20 percent of all Tu-95MSs to a new airfield]. WWW1 (in Russian). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  26. ^ Cahlan, Sarah; Baran, Jonathan (4 June 2025). "Ukraine's 'Operation Spiderweb' hit at least 13 planes, visuals show". Washington Post. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Украина атаковала базы стратегических бомбардировщиков в Мурманской, Иркутской и Рязанской областях привезенными на фурах дронами" [Ukraine attacks strategic bomber bases in Murmansk and Irkutsk regions with drones delivered in trucks]. Русская служба The Moscow Times (in Russian). 1 June 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  28. ^ "Беспилотники атаковали военные аэродромы с дальней авиацией в нескольких регионах России; украинские СМИ называют удар операцией СБУ" [Drones attacked military airfields with long-range aviation in several regions of Russia; Ukrainian media call the strike an SBU operation]. zona.media (in Russian). 1 June 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  29. ^ a b c d "Удар ВСУ по стратегической авиации РФ стал крупнейшим в истории — эксперты" [The Ukrainian Armed Forces' strike on Russia's strategic aviation was the largest in history—experts]. Deutsche Welle (in Russian). 1 June 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  30. ^ a b "Украина за один день уничтожила и повредила не менее 6 % российских стратегических бомбардировщиков" [Ukraine destroyed and damaged at least 6% of Russian strategic bombers in one day]. Агентство. 1 June 2025 – via agents.media.
  31. ^ Balmforth, Tom (1 June 2025). "Ukraine attacks Russian nuclear-capable bombers in Siberia". Reuters. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  32. ^ "Ukraine targets Russian airfields in major drone attack". ABC News. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  33. ^ Atle Staalesen (2 June 2025). "Satellite images from Olenya show 4 strategic bombers destroyed". The Barents Observer. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  34. ^ "Украина провела серию атак на ядерные объекты России. Главное" [Ukraine has carried out a series of attacks on Russian nuclear facilities. Main]. istories.media. 1 June 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  35. ^ Атака дронов по России: ПВО в Москве, удары по Липецкой области и Иваново [Drone attack on Russia: air defense in Moscow, strikes on Lipetsk region and Ivanovo] (in Russian). 23 May 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025 – via currenttime.tv.
  36. ^ Barnes, Joe; Rushton, James (3 June 2025). "Ukraine strikes Putin's prized spy planes". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  37. ^ "Deep web. Ukraine used drones hidden in mobile huts to strike airbases thousands of kilometres inside Russia". Mediazona. 1 June 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  38. ^ "СБУ: в ходе операции «Паутина» поражена треть российских стратегических носителей крылатых ракет общей стоимостью семь миллиардов долларов" [SBU: during Operation Spider Web one-third of Russian strategic cruise missile carriers at the cost of seven billion dollars were struck]. Meduza (in Russian). 1 June 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  39. ^ Michaels, Daniel; Lytvynenko, Jane. "Ukraine's Stunning Assault Roils Russia's Global Military Strategy". WSJ.
  40. ^ Smith, Alexander (2 June 2025). "Ukraine's massive drone attack deep inside Russia lays bare Putin's vulnerability". NBC News. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  41. ^ "Russia confirms Ukraine carried out drone attacks on airfields". BBC. 1 June 2025. Archived from the original on 1 June 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  42. ^ "Russian authorities detain truck driver thought to be involved in attack". BBC. 1 June 2025. Archived from the original on 1 June 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  43. ^ Upadhayay, Prapti (2 June 2025). "'Geopolitical insult': Donald Trump was not informed about Ukraine's Operation Spider Web against Russia". Wion.
  44. ^ Mihayloff, Andrey (2 June 2025). "Ukraine Attacks Part of Russia's Nuclear Triad. Russia May Strike Nuclear Blow in Response". Pravda.ru (English edition).
  45. ^ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-putin-phone-call-ukraine-drone-strike/
  46. ^ Stognei, Anastasia; Deprez, Fabrice; Miller, Christopher (3 June 2025). "'An epic failure': Russia reels from surprise Ukrainian attack on bomber fleet". Financial Times. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  47. ^ Lévy, Bernard-Henri (3 June 2025). "Drone Attack Shows Why Ukraine Will Win This War". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
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