Ukraine's massive drone strike cripples 40+ Russian bombers ahead of Istanbul talks

On June 1, 2025, Ukraine executed a large-scale drone strike, dubbed "Operation Spiderweb," targeting over 40 Russian strategic bombers, including the Tu-95 and Tu-22 models, at multiple airbases deep inside Russia, notably the Belaya airbase in Siberia, more than 4,300 kilometers from the front lines.

The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and military officials confirmed the strike inflicted damage exceeding $2 billion, severely impacting Russia's air missile carrier fleet. The operation was meticulously planned over 18 months and personally overseen by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy hailed the mission as a "brilliant result," noting it destroyed approximately 34% of Russia's strategic missile carriers using 117 drones. The drones employed were primarily FPV (first-person view) types, known for their precision and ability to evade defenses by being remotely piloted with live video feeds.

The attack struck four Russian airbases across vast regions including Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur. Russia acknowledged the strikes, confirming drone attacks on military airfields but claimed some were repelled.

This unprecedented deep strike into Russian territory marks the most elaborate and far-reaching drone operation by Ukraine to date, demonstrating significant advancements in drone warfare capabilities.

The strike occurred just a day before scheduled peace talks in Istanbul, underscoring the ongoing intensity of the conflict. Meanwhile, Russia continued its missile and drone assaults on Ukraine, with Zelenskyy warning of escalating attacks involving nearly 500 Russian drones overnight.

Key quotes:
"No intelligence operation in the world has done anything like this before," said defence analyst Serhii Kuzan.
President Zelenskyy: "Not for a single second did we want this war. We offered the Russians a ceasefire."

Key stats:
- Over 40 Russian bombers hit
- $2 billion+ in damage
- 117 drones used
- 34% of Russia's strategic missile carriers destroyed
- Operation planned over 18 months
- Strike locations over 4,000 km inside Russia

This operation highlights Ukraine's growing drone warfare sophistication and its strategic impact on Russia's military capabilities amid ongoing hostilities and diplomatic efforts.

Ukraine launched a massive drone strike on June 1, 2025, crippling over 40 Russian strategic bombers, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 models, at multiple airbases deep inside Russia, causing over $2 billion in damage. The operation, dubbed 'Spiderweb,' was personally overseen by President Zelenskyy ahead of Istanbul peace talks.