Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has struck 41 Russian heavy bombers at four airfields across Russia, dealing a significant blow to Moscow’s long-range missile capabilities.

Codenamed "Spider Web," the year-and-a-half-long operation utilized first-person-view (FPV) drones smuggled deep into Russian territory and hidden inside trucks to execute the attacks.

The operation targeted key Russian air bases, including Belaya air base in Irkutsk Oblast, over 4,000 kilometers from Ukraine, as well as Olenya air base in Murmansk Oblast, Diaghilev airbase in Ryazan Oblast, and Ivanovo airbase in Ivanovo Oblast. The SBU source confirmed that the strikes hit critical aircraft, including the A-50 early warning aircraft, Tu-95, and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, with unconfirmed videos showing FPV drones launching from trucks and rows of bombers engulfed in flames.

“The SBU transported FPV drones to Russia, concealed under the roofs of mobile wooden cabins on trucks,” the source explained. “At the designated moment, the roofs were opened remotely, and the drones flew to strike Russian bombers.” The full extent of the damage remains unclear, but the operation is believed to have crippled a significant portion of Russia’s bomber fleet, which is used to launch missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Irkutsk Oblast Governor Igor Kobzev confirmed a drone attack on a military unit in the village of Sredny, identifying a truck as the drones’ source. Similarly, Murmansk Governor Andrey Chibis acknowledged an attack by “enemy drones” in the region but provided no further details.

The operation marks a significant escalation in Ukraine’s drone warfare capabilities, targeting Russian bombers that have been largely out of reach due to their distance from Ukraine and the limited range of Kyiv’s domestically developed and Western-supplied weapons. FPV drones, costing just a few hundred dollars each, contrast sharply with the billions of dollars in value of the 41 targeted bombers, including A-50s, estimated at $350 million each, and Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 aircraft used to launch cruise missiles like the Kh-55, Kh-101, and supersonic Kh-22.

The A-50 plays a critical role in Russia’s war efforts, providing air defense detection, missile guidance, and target coordination, with fewer than ten in Russia’s arsenal. The Tu-95, a Soviet-era turboprop bomber, and the Tu-22M3, capable of carrying supersonic Kh-22 missiles, are key platforms for Moscow’s long-range strikes on Ukraine. The operation’s success underscores the cost-effectiveness and evolving sophistication of Ukraine’s drone strategy.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and SBU Chief Vasyl Malyuk personally oversaw the operation, according to the source, who also noted that those involved have been in Ukraine for an extended period, dismissing potential Russian claims of detentions as “staged performances.” The attack follows Ukraine’s March announcement of a new 3,000-kilometer-range drone, though details about its specifications remain undisclosed.

This unprecedented operation highlights the growing role of drone warfare in the conflict, with Ukraine leveraging innovative tactics to counter Russia’s air superiority and protect its cities from devastating missile strikes. (ILKHA)