The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that Ukraine’s Security Service succeeded in striking Russia’s strategic aviation. According to the ministry, drones reached targets in Murmansk and Irkutsk regions, where the “Olenya” and “Belaya” airbases are located. “As a result of FPV drones being launched from areas in close proximity to the airfields, several aircraft caught fire,” the ministry specified. It reported that there were no casualties among military or civilian personnel.
The Ministry added that in addition, the SSU attempted to strike the military airfields “Ivanovo,” “Dyagilevo,” and “Ukrainka” in the Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions. However, those attacks were repelled. Despite the fact that the targets were military and no casualties occurred, the agency accused the Ukrainian Armed Forces of “terrorist attacks” and reported the detention of “some participants” involved.
On June 1, the SSU carried out a large-scale operation to destroy Russian strategic bombers under the name “Spiderweb.” Trucks loaded with strike drones were used. The vehicles were brought close to the airfields, after which the drones were launched remotely. As a result, the Russian military did not have time to relocate the aircraft and failed to deploy air defense systems.
The drones destroyed at least seven strategic bombers: five Tu-95s and two Tu-22M3s, as well as one An-12 military transport aircraft, according to Ukrainian OSINT analyst Dnipro Osint. Z-blogger Kirill Fedorov reported the loss of “up to four Tu-95s, one cargo An-12, and up to five Tu-22M3s.”
The “Spiderweb” operation was personally led by SSU chief Vasyl Maliuk and was in preparation for a year and a half.
"A year, six months, and nine days from the beginning of planning to successful execution. Our most long-range operation to date. Our people who prepared the operation were timely evacuated from Russian territory. I thanked General Maliuk for this success of Ukraine. I instructed the Security Service of Ukraine to inform the public about the details and results of the operation that can be disclosed. Of course, we cannot reveal everything right now, but these are Ukrainian actions that will definitely be included in history textbooks. Ukraine is defending itself, and rightfully so—we are doing everything to make Russia feel the necessity of ending this war. Russia started this war, and Russia must end it. Glory to Ukraine!" wrote Volodymyr Zelensky.
In the Russian State Duma, the attacks on the airfields were called a “failure” of all Russian intelligence agencies.
