In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict, Ukraine launched a bold and unprecedented drone assault on Russian military airbases located deep within Siberia. According to a senior Ukrainian security official, over 40 Russian warplanes were targeted in the attack, marking one of the most ambitious strikes since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
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| ANKARA, TURKIYE - JUNE 1: An infographic titled "Ukraine hits over 40 Russian strategic bombers in 'large-scale' attack" created in Ankara, Turkiye on June 1, 2025. Ukrainian drone strikes hit military airfields in Russia's Murmansk, Ryazan, Irkutsk, and Ivanovo regions. (Photo by Elif Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images) |
The operation involved a coordinated drone offensive against four separate Russian airfields, including the remote Belaya airbase in Irkutsk Oblast, approximately 2,500 miles (4,000 km) from Ukrainian territory. Video evidence and imagery released by Ukrainian intelligence show massive explosions and several strategic bombers, including the Tu-95 and Tu-22, engulfed in flames.
Sophisticated Covert Operation: 'Spiderweb'
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) confirmed the operation was codenamed Spiderweb and had been in development for over 18 months. Drones were smuggled into Russia in components and later assembled and hidden inside the rooftops of wooden sheds transported via trucks to the vicinity of the targeted airbases. A remote-triggered mechanism was used to lift the sheds’ roofs, allowing the drones to take flight and strike the aircraft undetected.
Ukrainian officials estimate the destruction caused by the drone strike has inflicted losses exceeding $7 billion, making it the most damaging drone attack of the war to date. Dozens of quadcopter drones were deployed, and images released by Ukraine’s SBU display the launch sheds and drones positioned inside them, ready for deployment.
A separate clip from the Voskresensk airbase near Moscow captured the moment several Russian bombers burned, with a Russian serviceman heard exclaiming, “It’s destroyed here.” The strikes represent a significant advancement in Ukraine’s asymmetric warfare capabilities, using innovative drone tactics to overcome Russia's superior military hardware.
Russia’s Response and Ongoing Conflict
The Russian Ministry of Defense acknowledged that multiple military aircraft were damaged in the regions of Murmansk and Irkutsk. While no casualties were officially reported, Russian authorities stated that several individuals linked to the attack have been detained.
Concurrently, Russia launched a massive overnight drone barrage on Ukraine—reportedly the largest single-night strike of the war—with 472 drones and seven missiles launched. Ukraine’s military reported at least 12 service members killed and over 60 injured following a missile strike on a military training site.
Meanwhile, in Russia’s border regions of Kursk and Bryansk, two separate train derailments occurred after bridge explosions believed to be acts of sabotage. Seven people were killed, and several others injured. Russian state investigators are treating these incidents as terrorism-related and have opened formal investigations. Damage was also reported along the Unecha-Zhecha railway line in Bryansk, although no injuries were noted.
High-Stakes Diplomacy Ahead of Peace Talks
The drone assault comes just days before scheduled peace negotiations in Istanbul. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov would lead Ukraine’s delegation, signaling Kyiv’s readiness to engage in discussions under certain conditions.
“Our position before the Monday meeting in Istanbul includes key priorities: a complete and unconditional ceasefire, return of all prisoners of war, and the repatriation of abducted Ukrainian children,” Zelenskyy stated via social media.
Leaked documents suggest Ukraine will present a detailed peace framework, using the current frontlines as a baseline for further territorial negotiations. The proposed agreement reportedly includes provisions for maintaining Ukraine’s military sovereignty, rejecting any recognition of Russian-occupied territories, and demanding reparations from Moscow.
In contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin previously insisted on Ukraine renouncing its NATO ambitions and withdrawing from four regions now under partial Russian control—a stance Kyiv has consistently rejected.
Geopolitical Ramifications and International Pressure
The situation continues to draw global attention, with U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly pressuring both sides to reach an agreement, threatening to withdraw American support if progress is not made. A shift in U.S. involvement could leave Ukraine increasingly reliant on European allies for continued military and financial assistance.
As the conflict enters its third year, Ukraine’s innovative use of drone warfare and its strategic long-range strikes underscore a new phase in the war—defined by precision, intelligence-led attacks, and high-level international diplomacy.
