A new chapter in Ukraine’s defense just unfolded. In a single, wide-reaching operation, Ukraine claims it disabled more than 40 Russian bombers using advanced drone tactics. Ukrainian officials call this Operation Spider’s Web and credit its planning and execution to President Volodymyr Zelensky himself. The assaults targeted Russian air bases stretched across thousands of kilometers, reaching deep into Siberia and even near Russia’s northern and eastern borders. We haven’t seen anything quite like this before—the scale, the technology, and the nerve stand out even in the long and brutal conflict between these countries.
Let’s break down how Ukraine pulled off these attacks, what they mean for both sides, and how drone warfare is quickly changing the way battles are fought.
Ukraine’s Bold Drone Attacks: What Happened?
Ukraine’s recent operation was not just another frontline offensive. The Ukrainian Security Service describes Operation Spider’s Web as “a large-scale special mission.” The country claims to have struck more than 40 Russian bombers at multiple bases far from Ukrainian territory. These weren’t just any bases. They included sites in Siberia like Ballaya and Oenia near Murmansk, as well as outposts so remote, they’re closer to Mongolia than to Kyiv.
Here’s why this matters:
- Over 40 Russian bombers reportedly disabled or destroyed
- Targets included strategic bombers capable of carrying cruise missiles thousands of kilometers
- Airbases hit stretched from Central Russia and Siberia, as far north as the Arctic Circle, and deep toward Mongolia
- Operation planned for 1.5 years and personally overseen by President Zelensky
Ukraine’s move signals not just reach, but daring. These weren’t hit-and-run attacks near the front lines. Ukraine sent a clear message by striking deep inside Russia’s military infrastructure.
Which Russian Air Bases Were Targeted?
Ukraine’s drones hit several key locations. The Ukrainian military released footage showing explosions at one site after another. Here are the main bases involved:
- Ballaya Air Base (Southern Russia, Siberia)
- Oenia Air Base (Near Murmansk, far north near the Arctic Circle)
- Targets near the Finnish border and east toward Mongolia
The types of Russian aircraft involved make this even more important:
- TU-95 Bear: Russia’s main long-range bomber, can carry up to eight cruise missiles and fly thousands of kilometers. Often seen on patrol far beyond Russian airspace.
- TU-22M3 Blackjack: Another long-range bomber with strike capabilities.
- A-50: Russia’s airborne early warning and control aircraft, used for tracking both air and ground targets.
Ukrainian footage claims to show bombs dropping on neatly parked bombers, caught on drone video. Some scenes even show smoke rising as police try (and fail) to shoot down approaching drones.
Russian media confirmed that air defenses were active but admitted that several aircraft caught fire. Ukraine says the true damage is much bigger, with billions lost.
How Did Operation Spider’s Web Actually Work?
Pulling off attacks this deep in Russia isn’t easy. Ukrainian sources say this operation took a year and a half to organize. The method was complex but effective:
Planning and Preparation
- Drones were smuggled piece by piece into Russia, concealed on wooden pallets.
- Stored in hidden locations until the right moment.
- Transported by regular trucks to isolated air bases, thousands of kilometers from Ukraine.
Execution Tactics
- On attack day, drones were launched remotely from trucks.
- Some drones took off from everyday locations like petrol stations, blending in until launch.
- Social media spread footage of swarms from Siberia to the Arctic Circle.
- Local security forces tried to bring down drones with gunfire—often without success.
Ukraine’s Drone Edge
Ukraine now leads in offensive drone use. Where other militaries struggle to even spot drone swarms, Ukrainian technicians can coordinate attacks over vast distances. The biggest challenge for defenders is simple: detecting and shooting down dozens of small, fast-moving drones, often advancing in waves.
As military expert Mikey Kay explains, “Governments are behind the curve on this. Drones smuggled in, launched at the last minute—there’s just no easy way to stop them, especially when they come in swarms.” Ukraine’s approach required patience and creativity, outsmarting Russian defenses in plain sight.
The Cost for Russia: What Was Destroyed?
Ukraine claims its attacks caused up to $2 billion in damage—a figure that’s hard to confirm, but easy to understand given what was targeted.
Key Losses
- A-50 airborne early warning aircraft: Rare and hard to replace, vital for detecting threats.
- TU-95 and TU-22M3 bombers: Each can carry eight cruise missiles, flying far beyond Russia’s borders. Losing even a few hurts Russian reach and power.
- Over 40 aircraft in total: If true, this would be a historic setback for Russian military aviation.
Aircraft lost or damaged can’t be replaced overnight. For bombers capable of striking targets across Europe, the loss is twofold: fewer planes for future raids, and proof that their most secure bases aren’t so safe after all.
Can Russia Defend Against These Attacks?
Russian officials downplayed the losses, saying air defenses “repelled” the attacks but admitting that several aircraft caught fire. But evidence from video, satellite images, and social media suggest the story is more complicated.
Russian Air Defenses: Built for Missiles, Not Drones
Russia relies on systems like the S-400—advanced anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapons. These are great at shooting down fast-moving planes or missiles, but not designed to stop small, cheap drones, especially when they swarm.
Other countries test new ideas:
- Laser weapons: The United States has trialed lasers to shoot drones out of the sky.
- Radio Frequency (RF) jamming: The UK is testing jammers that cut the signal between a drone and its pilot.
But Russian air defenses lag behind when it comes to these threats. Swarms hide in radar “clutter,” and launching from inside Russia avoids early warning systems altogether.
Russia’s Blind Spot
Because the drones were brought in undercover—hidden in trucks, launched from ordinary settings—local forces got little warning. And with so many incoming at once, even well-placed defenses were overwhelmed.
As Mikey Kay put it, “It’s genius, really. Russia simply didn’t expect this.”
The Bigger Picture: Ongoing War and Peace Talks
While Ukraine struck at Russia’s bombers, Russian attacks continued. The city of Zaporizhia faced another barrage of missiles and drones, leaving new rubble and heartbreak behind. Elsewhere, 12 Ukrainian soldiers died in a training base attack.
In the middle of all this, the head of Ukraine’s land forces stepped down—another sign of how tough the fight remains for both sides.
Despite this violence, peace talks are scheduled in Istanbul. Russian and Ukrainian delegations are set to meet, but after so much destruction in just 24 hours, hope for progress remains slim.
Insights from Military Experts
Mikey Kay, a former senior British military officer and BBC presenter, shared his thoughts on the attacks. He explained:
“You’re talking about strategic long-range, deep-attack assets… the TU-95 Bear, the TU-22 Blackjack. Both can fly a long distance… So to have 40 of them taken out by Ukraine will hit Putin really hard.”
He added that Ukraine’s use of sabotage combined with drone swarms points to a new era in warfare. The hardest problem for all military planners now: HOW do you spot and stop a swarm of drones before it’s too late? So far, there’s no perfect answer.
What This Means Strategically
These drone strikes show that even the safest bases can be reached. The attack rattles Moscow’s confidence, but it also shows smaller countries like Ukraine can have a real impact by using new technology and smart tactics.
Drones and the Future of Warfare
Drone warfare is not science fiction anymore. Instead of risky manned raids or massive missile barrages, countries now use tiny, low-cost drones to hit valued targets, even deep in enemy territory.
How Drone Swarms Work
- Dozens of small drones fly together, programmed to avoid radar and defenses.
- Launched from unexpected places—trucks, fields, petrol stations—making them hard to spot ahead of time.
- Overwhelm defenses by sheer numbers, so even when a few are shot down, enough get through to cause damage.
Countries that can build or buy these drones, and coordinate their use, have a new kind of power on the battlefield.
Ukraine now leads the world in adopting this style of fighting, forcing its adversaries to rethink everything they thought they knew about air defense.
Key Aircraft Hit in the Strikes
TU-95 Bear: Long-range bomber, up to 8 cruise missiles, thousands of kilometers of reach.
TU-22M3 Blackjack: Fast bomber, cruise missile capable, difficult to intercept.
A-50 Mainstay: Vital for radar and early warning, rare in Russian inventory.
Conclusion
Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web sets a new bar for military operations in the 21st century. Skill, patience, and resourcefulness let one side reach deep into enemy territory, destroy key warplanes, and rewrite the story of this conflict. Russia must now face a modern threat its old defenses weren’t built to stop.
The broader war continues, with no end in sight. While both sides talk of peace, each shows it still has the means—and the will—to strike hard. For Ukraine, these drone attacks could mark a turning point, not just in this war, but in how wars are fought in the years ahead.
For more coverage and analysis of the Ukraine conflict, visit BBC’s Ukraine news section. To understand more about these historic drone attacks and their impact, see the full BBC News video report on YouTube.
Stay tuned for more updates as the story develops.
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