How Ukraine's 'Operation Spider's Web' Struck Deep Into Russia, Targeted Strategic Airbases

Ukraine launched a large-scale drone offensive on Sunday, targeting five key Russian military airbases in what is being described as its "most long-range operation" to date.

The covert mission, code-named "Spider's Web," struck deep into Russian territory-thousands of kilometres from the front lines-and reportedly damaged at least 41 aircraft used to "bomb Ukrainian cities," including the Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers and the A-50 airborne radar aircraft.

Photo Credit: AP/PTI

Moscow acknowledged that five of its airbases-in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions-were attacked using first-person-view (FPV) drones.

"The Kyiv regime staged a terror attack with the use of FPV drones on airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur Regions. All terror attacks on military airfields in the Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur Regions were repelled. No casualties were reported either among servicemen or civilians. Some of those involved in the terror attacks were detained," the Russian Defence Ministry stated on Sunday.

The ministry confirmed that several aircraft "caught fire" during the strikes. "As a result of the launch of FPV drones from territories in close proximity to military airfields in the Murmansk and Irkutsk Regions, several aircraft caught fire. The fires were extinguished," it said.

Operation Spider's Web: Unique Execution

Although Ukraine frequently conducts drone strikes within Russian territory in retaliation for the 2022 invasion, this particular operation employed a unique method. President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that "Spider's Web" had been over a year and a half in the making and described it as "our most long-range operation" since the war began, praising its "brilliant" outcomes.

According to the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), the mission involved exceptionally intricate logistics.

Drones were smuggled into Russia in advance and concealed under the roofs of wooden cabins placed on lorries.

At the time of the attack, the roofs were remotely opened to release the drones for short-range strikes on nearby targets.

Images released by the SBU show small black drones hidden inside transport containers. Russia later admitted that the drones had not originated from Ukrainian territory but from locations in close proximity to the affected airbases.

Among the airfields hit were the Belaya airbase in Irkutsk Oblast, around 4,300 kilometres from Ukraine's border, and Olenya airbase in Murmansk Oblast, some 2,000 kilometres from the front line. Videos circulating online appeared to show planes ablaze at these sites, with thick plumes of smoke rising from the tarmac.

Russia also claimed it successfully thwarted attacks in the Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions-Amur being near the Chinese border in the Russian Far East.

'Billions in Damage'

Ukraine's SBU claimed that the strikes caused damage to Russian military aircraft worth an estimated $7 billion. "$7 billion: This is the estimated cost of the enemy's strategic aviation, which was hit today as a result of the SBU's special operation," the agency said via social media.

Russia has yet to corroborate this assessment. However, the SBU had earlier stated that 41 aircraft were hit, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 bombers as well as the A-50 airborne command platform.

Russia confirmed that some aircraft had "caught fire" during the attacks in Murmansk and Irkutsk, but insisted the fires were contained and no casualties were sustained. State media reported that multiple suspects were arrested, including a lorry driver from whom a drone had allegedly been launched.

Zelensky later added that individuals involved in preparing the operation were "extracted from Russian territory in time".

Strategic Timing

The operation coincides with a sensitive diplomatic moment, three years into Russia's full-scale invasion. President Zelensky announced on Sunday that he would dispatch a delegation to Istanbul, led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, for talks with Russian officials on Monday.

The meeting, brokered by Turkey and reportedly influenced by US President Donald Trump's push for a swift peace settlement, is set to focus on "a complete and unconditional ceasefire" and the repatriation of prisoners and abducted children, according to Zelensky.

Russia, which has historically rejected ceasefire proposals, stated that it has outlined its own peace terms but declined to reveal them in advance.

The Russian Foreign Ministry added that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had spoken by phone with his US counterpart Marco Rubio to discuss "several initiatives aimed at a political solution to the Ukraine crisis", including the forthcoming talks in Istanbul, according to a statement published by state agency TASS.