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Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb Exposed! How Drones Hit Russia’s Most Secure Airbases 1,000 Miles Deep – Shocking Details Inside
Kyiv, Ukraine, June 2, 2025 – Ukraine has stunned the world with Operation Spiderweb, a bold series of drone strikes on Russian airbases thousands of miles from the front line. Launched on June 1, the attacks hit military targets across Russia, exposing gaps in its defenses and shifting the Russo-Ukrainian War’s dynamics. Here’s how Ukraine pulled off this daring operation and what it means.
What Was Operation Spiderweb
The operation was a masterstroke of planning:
- Codename: Spiderweb, reflecting the stealth and reach of its drone network.
- Goal: Cripple Russia’s long-range bomber fleet, including Tu-95, Tu-160, and Tu-22M aircraft, used for missile strikes on Ukraine.
- Targets:
- Belaya Airbase (Irkutsk), 4,300 km from Ukraine, a strategic bomber hub.
- Dyagilevo Base (Ryazan), 520 km from the border, home to Tu-95MS bombers.
- Olenya Airbase (Murmansk), 2,000 km away, hosting nuclear-capable aircraft.
- Ivanovo Severny (Ivanovo), 800 km from Ukraine, a transport aircraft base.
- Ukrainka Airbase (Amur), though the strike failed due to a truck explosion.
The operation’s vast reach marked a new phase in Ukraine’s strategy.
The Tech That Made It Possible
Ukraine’s drones were key:
- Drones Deployed: 117 first-person view (FPV) drones, launched from trucks inside Russia, with ranges up to 1,000 km.
- Navigation: AI-guided systems followed pre-set routes, dodging Russian radar and jamming attempts.
- Payload: Each drone carried up to 15 kg of explosives, enough to damage aircraft and fuel tanks.
The use of mobile launch trucks showed Ukraine’s tactical ingenuity.
Why It Shakes Up the War
The strikes hit Russia hard:
- Mental Impact: Attacks so deep in Russia prove no military site is safe, rattling public and Kremlin confidence.
- Military Toll: Ukraine claims over 40 aircraft damaged, including strategic bombers and an A-50 radar plane, worth $7 billion.
- Western Support: Though denied, NATO likely shared intelligence to pinpoint high-value targets, boosting Ukraine’s precision.
The operation has forced Russia to rethink its air strategy.
How Russia’s Defenses Fell Short
Russia’s response faltered:
- S-400 Systems: These advanced air defenses missed slow-moving FPV drones, exposing blind spots.
- Jamming Failures: Electronic countermeasures kicked in too late to disrupt drone navigation.
- Base Security: Airfields lacked drone nets or short-range anti-aircraft guns, leaving planes vulnerable.
These gaps have embarrassed Russia’s military planners.
Voices From Around the World
Reactions poured in:
- Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence said, “Our reach will only grow stronger,” signaling more strikes to come.
- Russia’s Kremlin labeled it a “terrorist act,” vowing to bolster airbase defenses.
- The U.S. Pentagon, while quiet, is reportedly greenlighting new drone shipments to Kyiv.
The global response underscores the operation’s far-reaching impact.
What Comes Next
The war is heating up:
- Ukraine’s Phase 2: Plans to target Russian drone and missile factories could disrupt Moscow’s production lines.
- Russia’s Moves: Bombers are shifting to Arctic bases like Olenya to stay out of range.
- Winter Stakes: Both sides are gearing up for attacks on energy grids, raising fears of a harsh season.
Operation Spiderweb has set the stage for a tense new chapter.