Ukraine Launches Unprecedented Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Ukraine executed its largest and most audacious drone operation of the war on Sunday, targeting multiple Russian airbases deep inside Russian territory and inflicting heavy damage on Moscow’s strategic bomber fleet. According to Ukrainian security officials, the coordinated attack struck four airfields—Belaya in Irkutsk, Olenya in Murmansk, Dyagilevo in Ryazan, and Ivanovo in Ivanovo Oblast—damaging or destroying at least 40 Russian military aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers as well as a rare A-50 reconnaissance plane. The operation, dubbed “Spiderweb,” involved smuggling 117 drones into Russia, where they were hidden in trucks and launched remotely near the targeted airbases. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as a historic moment that would “undoubtedly be in history books,” highlighting that 34 percent of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers were hit. Russian authorities confirmed drone attacks in several regions, including Murmansk and Irkutsk, where multiple aircraft caught fire, though they claimed to have repelled strikes in other areas. The Russian Ministry of Defense has not provided a full assessment of the damage, but Ukrainian sources estimate losses to Russia’s air fleet could total around $7 billion. The strikes come just ahead of planned peace talks in Istanbul, with both sides yet to confirm their participation. Analysts suggest the operation may temporarily constrain Russia’s ability to conduct long-range missile strikes against Ukraine, marking a significant shift in the dynamics of the conflict.
