Ukraine has launched a major drone attack on multiple Russian military airbases deep inside Russian territory, damaging at least 41 strategic bombers, delivering a significant blow to Russia’s strategic bomber fleet.
The operation, codenamed “Spider’s Web,” smuggled FPV drones into Russia hidden inside wooden sheds on trucks and parked near Russian airfields. Ukrainian forces remotely deployed 117 drones to strike five airbases in Irkutsk, Murmansk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur, thousands of kilometers from the front lines. The Ukrainian SBU estimated $7 billion in damages, destroying 34% of Russia’s cruise missile carriers, including Tu-95 bombers, Tu-22M bombers, and an A-50 command plane, which play a central role in Russia’s airstrike operations over Ukraine.
Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed fires at airbases in the Irkutsk and Murmansk regions but claimed to have repelled most attacks in other regions. The explosions reportedly also caused the collapse of two bridges and derailed two trains in western Russia, killing seven and injuring dozens. Meanwhile, Russia responded with a massive drone barrage against Ukraine, launching 472 drones and seven missiles.
